It's a Kay - what year?

[Stuball48]

Have a good friend who sent me these pictures. Any information on this Kay would be helpful.

 

[GGJaguar]

I think it's an early '60s K6110.

 

[Stuball48]

I think it's an early '60s K6110.

The body does not, hardly, have that shape. Or were there inconsistencies in bottom shapes. Was hoping "N2 and L 4001" inside the sound hole would be a key to identifying.

 

[GGJaguar]

You're right. Here's a '62 K6120 with pinless bridge that appears to be a closer match.

 

[Stuball48]

But the headstock emblem? I am thinking 40s or early 50s, maybe

 

[GGJaguar]

I had an early '60 Kay Swingmaster with that tin logo. The catalogs are notoriously inaccurate.

 

[Stuball48]

OK on notoriously inaccurate

 

[Rambozo96]

It’s hard to date a Kay because they really didn’t have a serial number system at all. The best you can hope for is a vague range of years in which it could have been manufactured. If it were an electric pot codes and dates on the original pickups can help

 

[Stuball48]

My friend's brother got it for Christmas in 1963 or 1964 used. The fellow his father bought it from thought it was near 30 years old then but I am beginning to realize not enough clues.
Was hoping tuner knobs or tuner gears or tuner mounts or head or body shape.
The numbers and writing has us no closer. Maybe a Kay Hans will come by.
Thanks and I will continue the hunt.

 

[SFIV1967]

The stamps have no known meaning, some kind of batch numbers.

Identifying and Dating Kay Guitars

Identifying Kay Guitars Unlike modern manufacturers like Fender, Taylor, and Martin, The Kay Musical Instrument Company did not publish t...

www.snathanieladams.com

It's a pity all the black paint is gone from the logo:

You can buy one for "only" $295 !!!

Vintage 1959 USA Kay Guitar & Bass Logo Badge Original 1960 1961 | eBay

<p dir="ltr">Original 1959 era USA Kay Guitar & Bass Logo Badge...Tin construction, normal vintage wear, light patina, includes 2 original nails. RARE Kay part, THANKS for looking!</p>

www.ebay.com

Ralf

 

[Stuball48]

The stamps have no known meaning, some kind of batch numbers.

Identifying and Dating Kay Guitars

Identifying Kay Guitars Unlike modern manufacturers like Fender, Taylor, and Martin, The Kay Musical Instrument Company did not publish t...

www.snathanieladams.com

It's a pity all the black paint is gone from the logo:

You can buy one for "only" $295 !!!

Vintage 1959 USA Kay Guitar & Bass Logo Badge Original 1960 1961 | eBay

<p dir="ltr">Original 1959 era USA Kay Guitar & Bass Logo Badge...Tin construction, normal vintage wear, light patina, includes 2 original nails. RARE Kay part, THANKS for looking!</p>

www.ebay.com

Ralf

And I can see where an excited boy could have heard "30 or 40 years old" instead of "3 or 4 years old."
The body shape of being almost a mirror image upper and lower bout still has me wondering and hope others chime in.

 

[SFIV1967]

A couple of things that are important when identifying the guitar:

Tuners (shape of base plates)
Fretboard markers (size)
Bridge (that one has no pins and is top wrapped.)
Binding on body
Rosette
Number of screws in pickguard

That guitar has no headstock truss rod adjustment.

Ralf

 

[Stuball48]

Thanks Ralf - would you have an "educated guess" of this guitars age--plus or minus five years?
Great information, thanks

 

[SFIV1967]

Thanks Ralf - would you have an "educated guess" of this guitars age--plus or minus five years?

I can only use the info in the link provided.
That "T logo" on the headstock was used between 1961 and 1965. There you go!
Also I guess the dots on the fretboard help as they look big and might be 3/8":
"3/8" pearloid or white dots in a single line pattern appeared in the 1960s"

Ralf

 

[Stuball48]

I can only use the info in the link provided.
That "T logo" on the headstock was used between 1961 and 1965. There you go!
Also I guess the dots on the fretboard help as they look big and might be 3/8":
"3/8" pearloid or white dots in a single line pattern appeared in the 1960s"

Ralf

Thanks and your shared information leads me to think late 50s or early 60s.
My friend has cleaned and polished it. And he has some EJ16 strings on the way. He just retired, I hope he learns to play.

 

[SFIV1967]

Thanks and your shared information leads me to think late 50s or early 60s.

Well, if that T-Logo was used between 61 and 65 it can't be late 50ies... Also if the Japanese tuners took over on student model instruments in the 1960s it can't be late 50ies either. Same for the dots on the fretboard.

Ralf

 

[Stuball48]

From what your research says - early 60s. And friends brother got it in 63 or 64.
Thanks again for your time and research. Will pass this on to my friend.

 

[79D25MMan]

Looks to me definitely 60s-early 70s. If I'm not mistaken Kay used that badge in the mid to late 60s along with those style of tuners. I have owned two Kay's with matching badges, both and arch top and a 1965-67 "Plains Special". I have also owned Kays that do not have that badge, a 1940s Archtop, 50's flattop (debadged) but with stock Klusons and label, and a 1960s? Kay archctop with a factory pickup. Hope these help!

1965-67 Plains Special

1960s Kay Archtop I believe this to be late 60s-early 70s. Tuners if they were replaced or not, were stamped "Japan".

Hope these help! I can provide photos of my earlier Kay guitars if that would help. Still unsure how to exactly date them using date stamps (Harmony/Silvertone makes it really easy with a simple date stamp), so I find old catalogue ads. Old Kraftsman also shared the Kay designs as well as some True-tones I believe that might be worth checking out as well! Cheers!

 

[Westerly Wood]

I like that Kay dread.

 

[Stuball48]

79D25MMan:
Thanks and you provided more pieces to the puzzle. From previous information, I am thinking an early to mid 60s. Thanks for all the great pictures.
Your Kay's are beautiful guitars!!