Kay K6847 Arch Top Cherry 1968
Kay K6847, cherry finish, made in USA 1968. There was a time when the Kay Musical Instrument Company, based out of Chicago, was up there with the biggest guitar makers in the world. This model dates to the late 60s, so the operation had been running for a few decades by that point. The cool automotive-esque badge sums up the design well: mid-century pragmatism with a bit of curvy class. This model was originally an acoustic arch top: the pickups were added many decades ago by a previous owner. It's a nice sound unplugged: warm and woody with an articulate snap and plenty of rounded lows and gooey mids. The pickups are great too: the neck is perfect for clean jazz or songwriter type stuff, with articulation aplenty but a forgiving complex wash through the mids. The bridge pickup is more abrupt, but into a cranked tube amp isa a low of fun for blues or rockabilly stuff; it's got a pleasing punch to it. Not all these vintage USA guitars play well, but I can vouch for this one: the neck is straight, it's a comfy round shape, the frets are intact, the intontation is pretty good... it all works nicely, and it's a lot of fun in the hands. There's a lot to enjoy here, truly. It's Oh-Kay with me.
Model: Kay K6847
Made: USA, 1968 approx
Serial: P-3
Finish: transparent cherry, hand polished lacquer
Body: spruce top, maple back and sides, fully hollow, full 95mm deep, 398mm across
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 12" radius, truss rod included, 43mm nut, generous U shape
Weight: 2.240kg
Mods: pickups, surrounds and relevant jack and controls added, truss cover replaced
Pickups: soapbar style single coil x2
Accessories: basic gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples on the end and scuffs on the front and edges. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples, surface scratches and some rub wear only. The back has dimples near the front strap pin and widespread minor scuffs around the whole body. The sides have dimples on the top horn and elbow area, scuffs near the jack and some checking on the bottom horn. The front has dimples around the knobs and elbow area, scuffs around the tailpiece, bridge and pickups and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (7.5/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 11-49 Tomastik flatwound strings.
Fret life: 6/10, normal play wear with some height gone, playing smoothly with no major buzz issues