1930's Kay Deluxe Round Hole Archtop?

Brushwood · #1 05-26-2019, 03:35 PM

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.jpg IMG_1013.jpg IMG_1014.jpg IMG_1015.jpg IMG_1016.jpg IMG_1017.jpg IMG_1018.jpg

drive-south · #2 05-26-2019, 06:49 PM

Im no expert on old Kay guitars but it may be birch. The adjustable neck is very cool.

Brushwood · #3 05-26-2019, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drive-south

Im no expert on old Kay guitars but it may be birch. The adjustable neck is very cool.

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.

MC5C · #4 05-27-2019, 09:03 AM

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

zombywoof · #5 05-27-2019, 04:29 PM

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.

Wade Hampton · #6 05-27-2019, 04:53 PM

Very cool guitars, both of them. I especially like the sunburst finishes on them.

whm

Brushwood · #7 05-27-2019, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof

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.

Thank you for the great info! I was able to use your lead and found a little more about my K2 version...I read, as you probably already know

, that among a few other things mine has a little smaller body size (Auditorium) as opposed to yours (Grand Auditorium), but apparently with the same body woods. What gauge and type of strings do you like to use on yours for slide? Also, I finally looked closer tonight and the bow in the neck actually goes from the 1st to the 12th fret with the worst being at the 5th at .039 and the first 3 frets are pretty worn

. Speaking of necks...I know that John Arnold, an AGF member and highly regarded luthier, is a very busy guy these days, but he lives in my neck of the woods and did a great job on some neck reshaping work for me a little over a year ago. If my luck continues, I hope I can get him to take a look at it sometime to see what he thinks.
Beautiful looking Kay Kraft Deluxe! Are there any videos or other ways I could hear what yours sounds like?
Thanks again

Brushwood · #8 05-27-2019, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Very cool guitars, both of them. I especially like the sunburst finishes on them.

whm

Thanks and I dig the looks too...very happy camper here. Zombywoff's is outstanding!

Brushwood · #9 05-27-2019, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC5C

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

Cool...thanks for the actual name and other info on the neck adjustment apparatus and dates 👍

zombywoof · #10 05-28-2019, 08:17 AM

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.

Brushwood · #11 05-28-2019, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof

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.

Gotcha and thank you Zombywoof...looking forward to the journey with this one.

Brushwood · #12 01-05-2020, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof

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.

Hi Zombywoof, I'm dredging up your reply to my post from last May to see if you have any suggestions on where to purchase a proper bridge for my Kay Kraft K2 Deluxe Archtop. The one that came with it when I bought the guitar off of my local Craigslist isn't original and doesn't fit flush at all to the top. I can carve my own saddle if needed and the bridge doesn't need to be of the actual period.
And any advice from anyone who'd like to chime in would be greatly appreciated as well.
Thanks