{"product_id":"orpheum-1950s-archtop-acoustic-guitar-by-kay-made-in-usa-with-hardcase-pre-owned","title":"Orpheum by Kay 1950's Vintage Archtop Acoustic Guitar Made in USA with Hardcase Pre-Owned","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eProduct Title\u003c\/b\u003e: Orpheum by Kay 1950's Vintage Archtop Acoustic Guitar Made in USA in Natural Finish with Hardcase Pre-Owned\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBrand\u003c\/b\u003e: Kay\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eType\u003c\/b\u003e: Archtop Acoustic Guitar\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYear\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eThis is an incredibly difficult guitar to date due to Kay's non-existent dating system and this item having no clear serial\/model numbers written anywhere on it. After a lot of research we have learnt that Kay serial numbers have no reference to date or model so thankfully this doesn't particularly matter! We have dated this based on a number of design features cross referenced against old Kay catalogues from the 50's and 60's, as well as other listings of the same item we have identified from other stores. This leads us to believe that this was built some time in the 50's, however, we can confirm exactly when.  \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSerial Number: \u003c\/strong\u003eNone\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eCountry of Origin\u003c\/b\u003e: Chicago, USA\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour: \u003c\/strong\u003eNatural \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eWeight\u003c\/b\u003e: 4.69lbs\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eCase\u003c\/b\u003e: Hardcase\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAccessories\u003c\/b\u003e: None\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlayability: \u003c\/strong\u003eThis guitar is amazing to play considering its age. With this in mind, the action does start to creep up towards the 12th fret, however this is not considerable with the string height measuring at 2.4mm. The neck is chunky and definitely a \"baseball bat\" sized neck, but is surprisingly comfortable. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSound: \u003c\/strong\u003eThis item sounds absolutely gorgeous and gives the classic blues, honky tonk sound, heard sound across American recordings of the time period. We would describe it as warm and mellow. This sound is fantastic for Jazz and Blues. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCosmetic\u003c\/strong\u003e: There are clear marks across the entire instrument, but when we consider its about 75 years it is in immaculate condition. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eElectronics\u003c\/b\u003e: None. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eCondition Rating\u003c\/b\u003e: 3\/4\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA Brief History of Kay Guitars\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003e1890\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Andrew Groehsl Company was formed in Chicago and began production of guitars, mandolins, and traditional European instruments\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003e1921\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGroehsl is bought out by Henry \"Kay\" Kuhrmeyer, Frank C. Voisinet, and Charles G. Stromberg and thus formed Stromberg-Voisinet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003e1931\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJune, Kay Kraft line is announced to be shown at the S-V booth at NAMM. July 1st, The Kay Musical Instrument Company is formed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e1938\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e62 employees were involved in the production of instruments. Instruments were sold through 40 wholesalers in 15 states on top of  mail order. The total sales of the company amounted to around $250,000. 60 percent of all finished instruments were sold outside of Illinois\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003e1965\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKay purchases Barth-Feinberg, a large music retailer in New York . The Kay Musical Instrument Company is purchased by the Seeburg Corporation, a jukebox manufacturer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e1967\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKay was purchased from Seeburg by Valco. Japanese-imports led to decreasing profits and Seeburg's desire to get out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003e1968\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eValco goes out of business.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003e1973\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \"Kay\" brand is revived and applied on Japanese-import musical instruments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIt is important to note that all guitars we take in at The Music Bank are serviced and restrung on arrival into store. \u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePre-Owned Condition Rating Guide\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRating Score\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e-\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcellent\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e- Item is in 'as new' condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRating Score\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e2\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan color=\"#80ff00\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eVery Good\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e - Item will show signs of light use\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRating Score\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e3\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e - Item will show signs of use including light marks\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRating Score\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e4\u003c\/b\u003e- \u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan color=\"#80ff00\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAverage\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e - Item will show signs of heavy use, dents\/chips \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRating Score\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e5\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot Working\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e - Item is sold for parts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout The Music Bank\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLocated in the heart of Knaresborough on the busy High Street, the Grade II, former Barclays Bank is where we call home! Spread over 2000 Sq Ft, and packed to the floor and ceiling with stock. We have a wide range of products to choose from. The store also offers music tuition in Guitar, Piano, Drums, Vocals, Ukulele, Bass Guitar, Classical Guitar, Songwriting and Music Theory in our dedicated tuition rooms, as well as Repairs, Sertups \u0026amp; Servicing. With a large customer base built over many years, creating strong supplier relations, we are able to bring you 1000's of great products at great prices! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Kay","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56810289660279,"sku":"PRE0754B","price":499.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0285\/3460\/3810\/files\/IMG_4063_96a69ad9-39a9-4dbe-b6fe-f823376c26ea.heic?v=1772560622","url":"https:\/\/themusicbank.co.uk\/products\/orpheum-1950s-archtop-acoustic-guitar-by-kay-made-in-usa-with-hardcase-pre-owned","provider":"The Music Bank","version":"1.0","type":"link"}