Questions Kay Archtop
 

edit: I meant to post this under "Archtops" so I have posted a duplicate there. Sorry for the mistake.

Hello,

Just by random chance I ran into a guy at Guitar Center who was trying to sell them an old Kay archtop. Guitar Center passed on it because the neck was separating and so the guy just gave it to me.

The only identifying marks are the Kay decal on the headstock (part of which is gone) and the number 2425 ink-stamped inside the left side f-hole. It seems to be all original, and basically sound, but it needs a lot of work. The neck is very loose, the frets are extremely worn, the bridge was glued to the top, the metal parts are very tarnished, and it generally shows decades of wear. I accepted it from the guy with the idea that it would be a good project to learn how to reset and refret an acoustic guitar neck. I am hoping you all can help with some basic questions.

First, I would like to try to identify the model and roughly when it was made. I would post pictures, but I don't seem to have the "manage attachments" box available as I post.

Next, I am trying to remove the neck. It is very loose, in that it wobbles around freely. I can slide a pallet knife in the crack at the heel all the way around, and under the tongue that extends on the top. Still, it won't slide out. It sort of "toggles" back and forth and up and down as if it is hung up on something. Does anyone know whether there is any sort of dowel, or bolt (there are none visible) in this joint that would keep the neck from coming off? If not, would it make sense to steam it, in case there's a hard glob of glue holding it up? I am afraid of just forcing it, for fear of breaking wood out of the joint. Any other ideas?

Thanks for your help.

John