Kay Model K1160 Parlour Sunburst 1966
Kay K1160 parlour, made in USA around 1966, sunburst. These old Kay instruments are super cute, and they certainly have a bit of midcentury swagger. This one is a pretty simple parlour style acoustic, with a snazzy sunburst finish and a musical note stencil where you might usually get a pickguard. It's got a snarly, bluesy voice that's fun for fingerstyle stuff especially, although it strums well. Not all these old Kays play especially well, but this intonates pretty nicely and plays cleanly up and down the neck. If you're after a cool vintage strummer to hang on the wall or take out travelling, this one has a lot of cowboy charm.
Model: Kay Model K1160 Parlor
Made: USA, 1966 approx
Serial: D7418
Finish: sunburst, satin varnish
Body: laminate maple top/back/sides, parlour style shape, 340mm across, 79mm deep
Neck: maple, maple fretboard, 620mm scale, 44mm nut, 25mm deep at both 1st and 12th, fat D shape, bolt-on join
Weight: 1.830kg
Mods: none
Pickup: none
Accessories: basic gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has balding and dimples on the end and edges, scratches and scuffs on the back and some scuffs on the front. The is clean and smooth in the hands, rub wear and some dimples on the back and some standard play wear on the front. The back has scuffs all over, as well as some minor paint chips in the elbow area and back edge. The sides have scuffs, surface scratches and dimples all over the body, but no major marks. The front has a scratch up from the tailpiece, chips in the bottom corner, rub wear all around the binding and some standard scuffs and play wear all over the body.
Overall: good condition (6.5/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is reasonably low, neck is straight, intonation is good. Wearing fresh 12/54 Moonshiners phosphor bronze strings.
Fret life: 8/10, minor wear only