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1930's Kay Deluxe Round Hole Archtop?
I just picked this up today from the local Craigslist for a song (pun intended and was hoping someone could confirm that this is a mid 1930's Kay Deluxe...and if so, could anyone tell me which of the different body woods they apparently put out for that model is on this this one? The bridge isn't original as well as the tuning pegs, but the original pegs were included. There is a slight neck bow at the top which I hope can be repaired, but the rest of the guitar seems to be in very good shape overall. I was planning on learning acoustic slide, so I'm thinking the Guitar God's sent me their approval of that particular journey...and feeling very lucky. Here are some pics:IMG_1012.jpgIMG_1013.jpgIMG_1014.jpgIMG_1015.jpgIMG_1016.jpgIMG_1017.jpgIMG_1018.jpg
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Martin 000-18 Norman Blake 1997 Seagull Rosewood Custom Shop Model Brunner Basic Outdoor Guitar Eastman T386SB Aria Sinsonido AS-100C/SPL (customized to steel string) Mid 1930’s Kay Kraft Deluxe K2 archtop Seagull S12 converted to 6 string lap slide Takamine TF740FS 2008 Pono PGKC (flamed Hawaiian Koa 0 cutaway) Last edited by Brushwood; 05-26-2019 at 09:51 PM. |
#2
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Im no expert on old Kay guitars but it may be birch. The adjustable neck is very cool.
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"Vintage taste, reissue budget" |
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Thanks...I agree & think that the back and sides are birch on this one...I think the top is possibly spruce. Yeah, I haven't checked it out to see if it's without issues yet, but the adjustable neck could come in handy.
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#4
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That adjustable neck is classic Kay and Kay Kraft from around 1931, the neck is called a Zorzi adjustable neck, and they stopped them around 1935-ish and went to a normal adjustable bridge. Usually seen on the Kay Kraft instruments with two points on the upper bouts.
Brian
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Brian Evans Around 15 archtops, electrics, resonators, a lap steel, a uke, a mandolin, some I made, some I bought, some kinda showed up and wouldn't leave. Tatamagouche Nova Scotia. |
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I have owned one for decades. I love the sound of mine. Kind of combines the midrange punch of an archtop with the fatness of a flattop. It is an absolutely wicked slide guitar.
Kay Deluxe was the short lived name between Kay Kraft and Kay although these are properly referred to as Kay Kraft Deluxe. These were about the last Kays to have the Zorzi adjustable neck. Kay offered several versions having different body woods - birch, maple and mahogany. If I had to guess I would say your slothead birch body version is a K2 which was part of a budget line. Sounds like your neck may need to have compression frets installed to deal with the cupping. Here is my K20 version. Mine originally came with a Kay Kraft Bakelite bridge which I replaced with an ebony one. Interesting guitar in that it has the Oahu style-headstock.
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"You start off playing guitars to get girls & end up talking with middle-aged men about your fingernails" - Ed Gerhard Last edited by zombywoof; 05-27-2019 at 06:02 PM. |
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Very cool guitars, both of them. I especially like the sunburst finishes on them.
whm |
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Beautiful looking Kay Kraft Deluxe! Are there any videos or other ways I could hear what yours sounds like? Thanks again |
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Thanks and I dig the looks too...very happy camper here. Zombywoff's is outstanding!
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The Zorzi neck is pretty much a convenient version of a kamikaze neck reset.
Regarding strings, while I generally string with 13s on a carved top, f-hole guitar, these Kays are not one of those. On my K20 I used to use 12s but as of late have taken to 11s with a .015 B and .012 E thrown on. If you plan to play slide on it though stick with 12s again maybe experimenting with a thicker gauge B and E.
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"You start off playing guitars to get girls & end up talking with middle-aged men about your fingernails" - Ed Gerhard |
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And any advice from anyone who'd like to chime in would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks
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Martin 000-18 Norman Blake 1997 Seagull Rosewood Custom Shop Model Brunner Basic Outdoor Guitar Eastman T386SB Aria Sinsonido AS-100C/SPL (customized to steel string) Mid 1930’s Kay Kraft Deluxe K2 archtop Seagull S12 converted to 6 string lap slide Takamine TF740FS 2008 Pono PGKC (flamed Hawaiian Koa 0 cutaway) |