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Old 08-16-2019, 07:38 PM
Bertie Lou Bertie Lou is offline
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Unhappy Vintage Custom Kraft Guitar

Hello to everyone. I'm trying to find information on my dad's old guitar. He bought it around 1945 in Chico CA. I was around ten years old and remember it already had a finger rub down to the grain in the wood. He taught me to play chords so I could sing songs of the 50's. After he passed away my brother had it. He had it reconditioned and brought it to me. I bought a capo off Amazon, but it doesn't even come close to fitting on the neck. Are there capos especially designed for a vintage guitar? I think its pre-1940's. Would like to post a picture, but not sure if that's possible here. I have Photobucket.http://

Last edited by Bertie Lou; 08-16-2019 at 07:44 PM. Reason: wrong purchase date (1940's)
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Old 08-16-2019, 10:28 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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Bertie Lou, I’m not even remotely an expert on that particular era in American-made acoustic guitars, but I’m fairly certain that your guitar was made in Chicago by one of the three big guitar factories there at the time, either Harmony, Regal or Kay. My guess is that it was built by Kay, but that’s only a half-educated guess, and I would be delighted if someone with more detailed knowledge of the era could correct me on that.

It looks as though it’s in very good condition for the age it has to be, but it’s difficult to tell things like neck angle from that photo.

As for a capo that will work with a thick vintage neck, Shubb makes a capo specifically for old guitars with big necks like yours. Elderly Instruments at Elderly.com usually has them in stock.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller
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Old 08-16-2019, 10:46 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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I just went to Elderly’s website to try to find that capo for thick necks, but for some reason I couldn’t get their website to work properly (I’m on my phone and relying on the motel’s WiFi connection, which might be a factor.) But Amazon came right up with the capo I had in mind, which is the “Shubb S3V capo for thick necks.” They’ve got them for $22.21, if I remember correctly.

They’re excellent capos. I have a Shubb capo in the case pocket of every instrument I gig out with. I don’t have any Shubb S3V’s, but I don’t own any guitars that have that neck profile.

I have used them on the vintage guitars of friends of mine, though, and they work well.

Hope this makes things a little easier for you.


whm
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Old 08-16-2019, 11:36 PM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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That's a cool guitar and welcome to the AGF.
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Old 08-17-2019, 01:08 AM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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Bruce in a Land Under, where women glow and the menfolk chunder, wrote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brucebubs View Post


That's a cool guitar and welcome to the AGF.
There you go showing off your expensive boutique brand Australian guitar capo again! Folks, don’t be fooled - that capo may LOOK as though it was improvised quickly and cheaply from commonly available office supplies, but the pencil-like strut is actually prime Queensland Maple carefully selected for its tonal qualities, and what looks like a rubber band is select kangaroo tendon harvested from environmentally sustainable red kangaroo roadkill.

Bruce will be happy to sell you one for two hundred Australian dollars.

Plus shipping....


Wade Hampton “That’s What He Charged ME, Anyway!” Miller

Last edited by Wade Hampton; 08-17-2019 at 01:15 AM. Reason: Corrected a typo
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Old 08-17-2019, 01:44 AM
Jobe Jobe is offline
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I like the eraser addition. That could come in handy from time to time the way I play. Do you offer it in more exotic woods? When I make mistakes I like to do it first class.
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Old 08-17-2019, 05:57 AM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobe View Post
I like the eraser addition. That could come in handy from time to time the way I play. Do you offer it in more exotic woods? When I make mistakes I like to do it first class.
Sorry, it only comes in yellow; that's as exotic as it gets.
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Old 08-17-2019, 06:52 AM
Monsoon1 Monsoon1 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wade Hampton View Post
Bruce in a Land Under, where women glow and the menfolk chunder, wrote:



There you go showing off your expensive boutique brand Australian guitar capo again! Folks, don’t be fooled - that capo may LOOK as though it was improvised quickly and cheaply from commonly available office supplies, but the pencil-like strut is actually prime Queensland Maple carefully selected for its tonal qualities, and what looks like a rubber band is select kangaroo tendon harvested from environmentally sustainable red kangaroo roadkill.

Bruce will be happy to sell you one for two hundred Australian dollars.

Plus shipping....


Wade Hampton “That’s What He Charged ME, Anyway!” Miller
The addition of the eraser makes this double as a fret cleaner. I'll take two!!
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Old 08-17-2019, 07:09 AM
Dave Abrahamson Dave Abrahamson is offline
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Don't forget the graphite on the other end....for those pesky sticking strings in the nut slots.👍
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Old 08-17-2019, 10:47 AM
Jimmie Jimmie is offline
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Your guitar was made by Kay; this model probably was built 1934-1937.
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Old 08-17-2019, 11:01 AM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmie View Post
Your guitar was made by Kay; this model probably was built 1934-1937.
Thanks for returning the thread to its intended purpose. OP, my apologies for temporarily derailing the conversation.


whm
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Old 08-17-2019, 11:39 AM
Bertie Lou Bertie Lou is offline
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Smile Thank you!!

Thank you ALL for your comments. It means so much to me. According to this date period, it was made before I was born in 1938. I remember my dad bringing it home when I was 10. A big event in our home. My dad was a minister, and he wouldn't have had the money for a new one. If you look closely you can see the finger rub someone else made, and they must haved loved this guitar before we did. Mom and Dad sang beautiful harmony with it at church. I love that memory of them. I ordered the Shubb capo from Amazon (for vintage thick-neck guitars). Will be looking forward to that, but not to the sore fingers. It will be fun!
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Old 08-17-2019, 12:19 PM
gfspencer gfspencer is offline
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Did you read this . . . .

https://www.stlamateurluthier.com/20...ar-models.html
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Old 08-17-2019, 12:30 PM
Blind Dog Blind Dog is offline
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Pretty sweet guitar Bertie Lou, and welcome to the forum.
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Old 08-21-2019, 10:07 PM
Bertie Lou Bertie Lou is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gfspencer View Post
Thank you!
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