Kay 1950s Venetian Mandolin Sunburst w/ Geib Case Very Good

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

This 1950s Kay 2-point Venetian-style mandolin in sunburst cleaned up very nicely for us, and it actually plays really well too.  If you've been looking at these you might agree that it is one of the nicest out there.

The classic teardrop body shape that Kay produced through the postwar period for the student and mid-market mandolin buyer, finished in sunburst over pressed laminated spruce top and maple back and sides. Kay's Chicago production during this era supplied instruments to music stores, catalog retailers, and department stores across the country, and these mandolins have been workhorses in folk, bluegrass, and old-time music ever since. The Venetian 2-point is the rounded double-point body style that sits between the fully rounded oval and the sharper-pointed A-5 styles.

There is a separation of the neck from the body at the neck heel. We checked this carefully — the neck is not loose and the joint is extremely strong. The separation is cosmetic and visible in the photos. It does not affect playability or structural integrity and does not require repair. The neck, top, back, and sides are all otherwise in excellent condition with no cracks or repairs. Rosewood fingerboard in excellent condition, frets in very good condition. Bone nut appears to have been reset or reglued at some point. Repro tuner buttons on original tuner plates. Original Kay nickel tailpiece, original rosewood bridge, original tortoiseshell pickguard. Action is set at 3/32" on the first string and 2/32" on the eighth string at the twelfth fret. At 1 lb 15 oz this is a light, easy-playing instrument. Original Geib chipboard case in very good condition, with chord book and old string packs included.

SPECS:

• Weight: 1lbs 15oz
• Color: sunburst
• Finish Original? yes
• Finish Condition: excellent
• Top Material: pressed/laminated spruce
• Top Condition: excellent
• Top Cracks: none
• Top Repairs: none
• Top Binding: yes
• Top Binding Condition: excellent
• Back & Side Material: pressed/laminated maple
• Back & Side Condition: excellent
• Back & Side Repairs none
• Back & Side Binding yes
• Scale Length: 14"
• Neck Material: maple
• Neck Profile: C
• Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: .848"
• Neck Thickness At 10th Fret: .916"
• Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Action 8th String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Neck Condition: very good.  There is a separation of the neck from the body at the neck heel.  The neck is not loose- we checked and it is extremely strong.
• Neck Repairs: none
• Fretboard Material: rosewood
• Fretboard Condition: excellent
• Fretboard Repairs: none
• Fretboard Radius: flat
• Fret Condition: very good
• Fret Repairs: none
• Fret Count: 20+
• Nut Material: bone
• Nut Repairs: looks like it may have been reset/reglued at some point
• Nut Width: 1-1/8"
• Bridge Wood: rosewood
• Bridge Original? yes
• Tailpiece Brand: Kay
• Tailpiece Color: nickel
• Tailpiece Condition: very good
• Tailpiece Original?: yes
• String Spacing At Bridge:
• Bridge Condition: excellent
• Overall Length: 26-7/8"
• Body Length: 13-1/16"
• Lower Bout: 10"
• Waist: 6"
• Upper Bout: 7-1/2"
• Body Depth/Thickness: 1-7/16"
• Pickup System: none
• Tuner Brand And Model: 4 on a side
• Tuners Original? yes, buttons replaced with new repros
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners? none
• Truss Rod Cover: none
• Strap Buttons: none
  
• Pickguard Color: tortoise shell
• Pickguard Original?: yes
• Case Brand: Geib chipboard
• Case Original?: yes
• Case Condition: very good
• Case Smells?: none
• Documentation: none
• Smells?: none
• Accessories Included: chord book, old string packs

Shipping policy:

Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.