Kay Jumbo Flattop c. 1960

Kay has a long history of making guitars for 'Everyman'. This example, from c. 1960, is just that .. a big guitar on a budget, affordable by most. Listed in Kay catalogs as "Master Size", the body measures 17" across at the lower bout, which makes it a big boomer.

The body is spruce ply on top (ladder braced), and birch ply on sides and back, all finished with sunburst. The binding is white paint. The neck is likely poplar, steel reenforced, with a tropical hardwood fingerboard and 14-frets to the body. The neck measures 1 5/8" across at the (raised) nut, and scale length is 25 7/8". Both the pick guard and tailpiece are marked with 'Kay' logos. The 'Kelvinator' head stock covering is missing, but had been there at one time as evidenced by the three screw holes that remain. The original tuners were replaced with repro Kluson Deluxe. A Seymour Duncan sound hole pick-up is installed. The guitar is set up with high action for Hawaiian/lap playing (which makes for very clean fingerboard and frets!).

The only repair issue to report is that the neck may have become loose in its joint and was reglued. It appears solid. There is a long stain on the lower bout, see pics.

This would make a great lap-style guitar, or a fun neck reset project for a booming fingerpicking blues guitar.