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Thread: Your thoughts on this old Kay?

  1. #1
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    Default Your thoughts on this old Kay?

    Date, condition, suggested stringing - all thoughts welcome.
    A little background - I own it; it's been sitting around in its (non-original) case for years; the cracks in back seem stable; any suggestions for restoring the pickguard to its original pearloidescence?.

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  3. #2
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    Default Re: Your thoughts on this old Kay?

    Looks like I'm going to set a record for Most Views Without A Reply. (856 so far.)
    Hey wait, this one doesn't count!

  4. #3
    Registered User mreidsma's Avatar
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    Default Re: Your thoughts on this old Kay?

    I’ll bite: 1920-1930s. (I know they brought back the Venetian shape for mandolins in the 1950s or 60s, but I don’t think they did tenors that way again, or at least not with pearloid.)

    CGDA would be nice (it’s what it was built for). I’d use light strings, 32, 20, 14, 9? Jake Wildwood has a page where he talks about the best gauges for various string lengths on wine guitars. I can’t remember, is this a 21” or a 23” scale?

    I don’t have much experience with the pearloid stuff - you might have better luck with that question in the builders forum?

    Cool guitar Though! I’ve always liked that shape.

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  6. #4
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Your thoughts on this old Kay?

    I don't know what is going on with the pickguard but I would concentrate on getting the cracks fixed and the thing strung up and playable first. Unless the cellulid is about to explode, I would not worry about it. It has aged naturally.
    Jim

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  8. #5
    Registered User mreidsma's Avatar
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    Default Re: Your thoughts on this old Kay?

    One last question: are those nylon strings on it now?

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  10. #6
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    Default Re: Your thoughts on this old Kay?

    Venetian! I was blanking out on the term & it was driving me crazy.

    Light plain strings (all unwound) at the moment. I have a D'Addario EJ66 set I'm planning to use (80/20 bronze, 10-14-22w-32). That shouldn't stress it too much. The scale is 23".

  11. #7
    Registered User 40bpm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Your thoughts on this old Kay?

    I second the recommendation by Mr. Garber to attend to the back cracks and leave the pearloid pickguard as is. In fact, I kinda' like the patina. Very cool guitar. It's a design that appeals to me and is very different.

    All unwound strings? How does it sound?
    [note to self] Burst not thy brother's bubble ~ unk

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  13. #8
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Your thoughts on this old Kay?

    Hang on, didn't you people get the memo? We were just going to view this message not answer it. You had one job.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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    40bpm 

  15. #9
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Your thoughts on this old Kay?

    I like the old banjo headstock.
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  17. #10
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    Default Re: Your thoughts on this old Kay?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Hang on, didn't you people get the memo? We were just going to view this message not answer it. You had one job.
    It's okay. I blew my attempt for the record by replying to myself.

    Anyhow, I have to confess I prefer answers!

  18. #11
    MandoHog MandoHog's Avatar
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    Default Re: Your thoughts on this old Kay?

    Oh I duno, but it looks "old-kay" to me....

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