I'm a big fan of old Kay style instruments and I hope some of you are as well. Don't make fun, not everybody can afford a Gibson master model.
I'm a big fan of old Kay style instruments and I hope some of you are as well. Don't make fun, not everybody can afford a Gibson master model.
"If at first you don't succeed, then keep on suckin' till you do succeed."
I had a pumpkin-colored one not too long ago that was my first serious player. It appeared on the wedding cake.. I should find photos of that
I always liked that shape. Years ago, I attended the one and onloy Jethro Burns weeklong mandolin workshop in Elkins, WV and one of the attendees had a handmade Kay-shaped mandolin that was very sweet. I think it might have been made of koa also. I wish I could find that class photo. Maybe that person is still playing and a Cafe member. I have no idea who made that mandolin or if he/she is still building.
Jim
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
I love those.
-Jason
www.opposablechums.com
the Kay line
Carl Martin - Everyday I have the Blues
My gear : 1927 A0/Ajr , JM-11 , Fender 346 white XH
I have the third mandolin form the left, top row of the picture posted by bluesmandolinman... What do you think this instrument is worth? I cannot find any serial number or label other than the metal KAY label on the headstock.
-Tex
-Todd
I've never seen another Kay with the headstock shape that the electric has. Is that neck bolted on by any chance?
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Not sure. I'm new to all this.
The headstock looks more like this image I found on an Ebay posting...
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Kay-Mandolin_W0QQitemZ120229684937QQihZ002QQcategoryZ1 0179QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1Q
QcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage....iewItem</a>
The rest of the mandolin looks more like this pic:
-Todd
That is a Kay Kelvinator headstock and it's cheaper painted on cousin. I was referring to the one in original post on the right.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Well, since you asked...
Close up of that decal...
Mother of toilet seat peghead...
Lovely one Hans. I like shape of those old Kay mandolins. Since I've not played one, would owners say they have a sound similar to a Stradolin or a unique voice their own?
Jamie
There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946
+ Give Blood, Save a Life +
The first thing you need to know about Kay mandolins is that most aren't all solid wood and that goes way back. They had to be in the laminated top and back game early. The second thing you need to know is that out of all the inexpensive mandolins I've dealt with, they have possibly the worst neck joints I've seen. The most apparent thing when you open one up is that the dovetails were very sloppy and they attempted to reconcile that fact by adding more hide glue. It generally didn't work. They are hit and miss. There are good and there are bad. You can guarantee anything made in the 50's and the 60's is laminated. Anything after the 60's is imported and isn't in the same league as the US made models. With that said, they can be fun. The one that Hans has is a wonderful example of an early model with it's decals and MOTS appointments.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Mike's right about the dovetails...this one had a big screw through the joint with putty in the heel. Sides were delaminating at the bass point, neck had to be reset, the fingerboard was shot, pickguard was abused, needed a new bridge and I had to reinforce the soundhole. Took some work to get it back to playing. Sound is thin, but old timey and pleasant.
I had expected we'd see a Brentrup with that body shape by now
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
There she is! My first mandolin also happened to be a Kay!
f-d
ˇpapá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!
'20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A
I have an arch kraft that I love, but the head broke off due to a hairline fracture when I bought it. #I would like to repair it/get it repaired as I love that thin yet resounding sound. #Any leads on how to get this done?
Also, I have a Kay tenor banjo that I adore. #I will get some pics up!
Go Long, Mule
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