Another Identity Crisis...No Marks At All

**Texas** · Jul-03-2012, 4:03pm

I picked this up at GoodWill for about $80. It is in fairly good shape—not great—with cracked finish in places and a missing string. No cracking that I can see. However, no markings at all. There is a faint two symbols in side but not anything that is identifiable.
Here's a few pictures...Maybe an old Kay? :

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**MikeEdgerton** · Jul-03-2012, 4:52pm

More likely old Regal.

**John McCoy** · Jul-03-2012, 5:24pm

If photo #5 it looks like you've even conscripted your cat to check for internal markings.

**Texas** · Jul-03-2012, 5:47pm

Originally Posted by John McCoy

If photo #5 it looks like you've even conscripted your cat to check for internal markings.

Yea, Sox the cat wants first look at any new items brought into the house. Normally, when he finishes the inspection, he will lay on top, I guess in a show of conquering this new intruder.

**David Rambo** · Jul-04-2012, 2:42pm

It's a cat scan of the instrument.

**Jim Garber** · Jul-04-2012, 2:54pm

Originally Posted by Texas

Maybe an old Kay?

I think so. Here is a model K64 from a 1957 Grossman (distributor) catalog. This is pretty close, esp the headstock shape Only the fretboard dots don't quite match. The model K65 has the same dots but has spruce top and natural finish.

Yours could have been a Kay that lost its id badge or else one made to be sold wholesale for various stores.

**Texas** · Jul-04-2012, 5:15pm

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

I think so. Here is a model K64 from a 1957 Grossman (distributor) catalog. This is pretty close, esp the headstock shape Only the fretboard dots don't quite match. The model K65 has the same dots but has spruce top and natural finish.

Yours could have been a Kay that lost its id badge or else one made to be sold wholesale for various stores.

Jim, I agree. Kay appears to be the maker. Looking very closely at the headstock it appears it may have been painted. Since I am an amateur watchmaker I have lots of magnifiers so I am going to put the headstock under high magnification and see if I can see ghosts of a name. I'll post my results later...

Thanks.