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Description

Silvertone Aristocrat Model 1356 made by Kay in Chicago, red sunburst lacquer finish, spruce top, maple back and sides, laminated maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. This very flashy full-body cutaway electric archtop was one of Sears' very earliest higher-end electric offerings, built for them by Kay. With a huge cutaway cherry sunburst body decked out with wide top, back, and side binding, topped off with coordinated engraved and painted Celluloid pickguard and headpiece, this guitar makes quite the visual statement. The laminated maple neck sports fancy abalone and plastic inlay in the bound rosewood fingerboard. The single pickup is encased in a metal cover and controlled by small cream tone and volume knobs mounted on the lower rim. This model was introduced in 1952 for a very reasonable $99.95 list price, and created quite the stage presence for its owner. "Want to be more Popular? Play an electric guitar" ran the 1954 Sears blurb for this model.

Overall length is 42", 17" wide at the lower bout, and 3 1/2" deep at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 3/4".

This guitar is super clean overall, with very little wear anywhere. Complete and all original with just a strap button added to the heel. The finish shows almost no fade and is resplendent in its bright cherry-to-yellow sunburst hue. The only notable playwear is just some lacquer worn off the sides of the neck around first position and light finish scrapes, checking, and commonly seen nicks and dings. The original tuner buttons are shrinking just a bit but are still fully functional. Includes a new hard case.

Vintage Blues Guitars

Vintage Blues Guitars

~1952
Kay
Excellent
Redburst
Hard
17 Years
Vintage Blues Guitars
Tom Wentzel and Bruce Roth
717.917.3738
Lancaster, PA
6:48 AM
phone calls accepted 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. eastern time .. text or email anytime

Cash, checks, PayPal, money orders or bank wire. We don't accept credit cards at this point.

We ship usually within a day of payment. International customers, we are not CITES certified. Any guitar with CITES-protected materials (Brazilian rosewood, ivory et al) shipped outside the US will be shipped at the risk of the buyer.

Forty-eight hour test drive on all instruments..if not to your liking, return for refund minus shipping costs.