Custom Kraft 6116 Vintage Acoustic Guitar – Kay Made, 1950s Ladder Braced USA Parlor Model

No sales tax for customers outside California.

The Custom Kraft Model 6116 is a vintage American-made acoustic guitar produced by Kay Musical Instrument Company during the 1950s–1960s era—a time when affordable yet distinctive guitars were made for department stores and catalogs across the U.S. Sold under the Custom Kraft brand, this model is now sought after for its unique charm, bluesy tone, and retro aesthetic.

Featuring a ladder-braced spruce top with birch back and sides, the Model 6116 delivers a dry, woody tone with crisp mids and that unmistakable vintage boxy resonance—perfect for old-school blues, folk, and Americana. The small-bodied design makes it incredibly comfortable to play, whether fingerpicking or strumming.

This guitar retains its original vintage vibe with details like the stenciled pickguard, bound body, and Kay-style headstock. Ideal for players looking for authentic vintage sound on a budget or collectors of quirky American-made instruments, this Custom Kraft 6116 is a playable piece of mid-century guitar history.

This isn't the best playing guitar, but that's to be expected when you get into collecting old Kay guitars. That said, some work has been done to make it more playable than others you'll find.

The frets are in good shape.  The neck has been reset and the nut has been shimmed.

There are some areas where the binding has deteriorated.  

An old chipboard case is included.  

• Color: Sunburst
• Weight: 4lbs 0.5oz
• Top: Spruce
• Body: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Inlays: Dot
• Frets: Original
• Fret count: 19
• Nut: Non original
• Nut width: 1-11/16"
• Scale: 26"
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: 1.01"
• Neck thickness at 9th Fret: 1.03"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 4/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 4/32"
• Total length: 40-1/2"
• Body length: 19-1/4"
• Lower bout: 15"
• Waist: 9-1/4"
• Upper bout: 10-3/4"
• Body depth/thickness: 4"
• String gauge: 12-53
• Pickguard: Original
• Bridge: Original
• Tuners: Original?
• Case: Chipboard
• Notes: 

Shipping policy:

There are two shipping cost options for purchases made on our site for these states and those to the east of them: Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas.  Select Standard shipping at checkout and your item will be shipped via UPS three-day-air.  Select Economy shipping and your item will ship via UPS ground.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for these Eastern states and shipment will be made by UPS three-day-air.  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.