2019 Baxendale Conversion 50s Kay Mandocello in Sunburst

Here we have a 1950s Kay guitar which has undergone the famed Baxendale conversion process. Scott Baxendale is an Athens, Georgia-based luthier who has developed his own proprietary process for turning old Harmony, Stella, and Kay ladder-braced guitars from fun couch players into great playing, great sounding, X-braced tone monsters. This one has an added twist. This guitar was originally a standard six-string Kay but has been transformed into a mandocello.

Baxendale’s standard process includes taking off the back of the guitar, repairing any cracks or structural issues, removing all existing bracing, and adding his own X-braced pattern of scalloped braces in quarter sawn Adirondack or Engleman spruce, before replacing the back. He also performs a neck set and refret, planing (or replacing) the existing fingerboard to a perfect 12 or 14 inch radius. New vintage-style tuners and a bone nut is installed. Scott also makes a new Rosewood bridge with a bone saddle. To transform the six-string into a mandocello, Scott filled the original tuner holes and drilled the headstock to accommodate a pair of 4-on-a-plate vintage-style mandocello tuners.

During the conversion process, the original finish of the guitar is substantially retained so the cool vintage vibe is not lost. In this case, however, Scott added pinstriping to the top and around the soundhole, and also touched up the headstock to hide the old tuner holes. Looks really great.

If you’re unfamiliar with Mandocellos, we can tell you that they’ve become a hot commodity with some of the top Americana players including Luther Dickinson, Patterson Hood, and Buddy Miller. Check out “Buddy Miller’s Crib – Studio Tour with Aaron Lee Tasjan” on YouTube. At about 8:50 into the tour, Buddy shows off his personal Baxendale Conversion Mandocello. The traditional tuning for Mandocello is CGDA, but Buddy says he tunes his Mandocello “to fit whatever song he’s playing.” We’re told that Patterson Hood uses FCFC tuning. So the point is, there is no right or wrong. Get creative and find your own voice. The possibilities are virtually endless.

We love Baxendale conversions and we’re sure you will, too. This one totally blows our minds. Grab it quick before we decide to keep it.

DETAILS
Make: Baxendale Conversion Kay

Model: Mandocello

Finish: Vintage Sunburst

Case: New Guardian Hardshell Case

Weight: 4 pounds

Condition: Excellent Modified Condition (with a few original nicks and finish scratches left in place for a cool vintage vibe)

Modifications: Read notes above which describe the Baxendale conversion process in detail. Call if you have any questions.

Comments: This converted mandocello is a serious instrument whose tone will blow you away.