Kay 1950s Parlor Guitar Sunburst

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

This Kay guitar features a spruce top over maple back and sides in a parlor body size with ladder bracing. At under four pounds, this is a genuinely comfortable instrument to hold. Overall cosmetic condition is excellent for a guitar of this age — the original sunburst finish is intact and presents well, with no top cracks and no repairs to the top, back, sides, or neck.

Kay produced enormous numbers of affordable instruments through the 1950s, and their parlor guitars from this era have earned a following among players who want a compact, all-original acoustic with vintage character at an accessible price. The combination of spruce top, maple body, ladder bracing, and a short 24-1/2" scale is typical of mid-century Kay construction. The flat-radius fretboard and slim nut width of 1-1/2" reflect the student-grade intent, but these guitars hold up in regular use and have genuine tonal personality. 

The guitar needs a neck reset to be playable in the higher register.  The tuners are not original, and the headstock has an added screw hole to accommodate them. One bridge pin is unmatched. The original frets show light wear and just need a polishing. Action sits at 5/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the 12th fret. The case included is an era-correct chipboard case, not original to this guitar, in fair condition with no handle. String gauge on the guitar currently is 12-53.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Color: sunburst
• Finish Original?: yes
• Finish Condition: Excellent
• Weight: 3lbs 15oz
• Overall Length: 38-1/4"
• Nut Width: 1-1/2"
• String Spacing At Bridge: 1-1/4"
• Scale Length: 24-1/2"
• Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 5/32"
• Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 5/32"
• Neck Material: poplar
• Inlay: painted dot
• Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: .963"
• Neck Thickness At 10th Fret: 1.12"
• Neck Condition: Good - needs a neck reset
• Neck Repairs: none
• Tuner Brand And Model: generic
• Tuners Original?: no
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: yes, screw hole added
• Truss Rod Cover: none
• Nut Original: Unsure
• Nut Material: Not known
• Nut Repairs: none
• Fretboard Material: stained hardwood
• Fretboard Condition: good
• Fretboard Radius: flat
• Fretboard Repairs: none
• Fret Condition: very good - light wear, just need polishing
• Fret Repairs: none
• Fret Count: 19
• Body Length: 17-7/8"
• Lower Bout: 14-1/2"
• Waist: 8"
• Upper Bout: 9-1/2"
• Body Depth/Thickness: 4"
• Top Material: spruce
• Top Condition: Excellent
• Top Cracks: none
• Top Repairs: none
• Top Binding: yes
• Top Binding Condition: Excellent
• Back & Side Material: maple
• Back & Side Condition: Very good
• Back & Side Repairs: none
• Back & Side Binding: none
• Bracing Material: ladder braced spruce
• Bracing Condition: Excellent
• Bridge Wood: stained rosewood or maple, not 100% sure
• Bridge Original?: yes
• Bridge Condition: very good
• Bridge Pins: plastic, 1 unmatched
• Bridge Plate Material: maple
• Bridge Plate Condition: Very good
• Bridge Plate Original?: yes
• Saddle Material: Not known
• Saddle Original?: Not certain
• Saddle Condition: good
• Pickguard Color: white
• Pickguard Original?: yes
• Strap Buttons: Endpin only
• Pickup System: none
• Case Brand: Era correct chipboard
• Case Original?: no
• Case Condition: fair, no handle
• Case Smells?: none
• Accessories Included: none
• String Gauge: 12-53
• Documentation: none
• Smells?: none

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