Though before ‘57 Kay had built a few quality guitars, most people remember them for entry level guitars made in the 50’s and 60’s. Kay made instruments for many companies under different names; “Old Kraftsman”, “Airline” and “Silvertone” were just a few of them used. The Gold “K”s can be easily identifiable by the huge reverse painted clear plastic Kelvinator looking logo on the headstock with 1963 marking the last of the Gold line with a Kelvinator to be released. The company was eventually sold to Valco in 1967 and two years later it was out of business. The name is still around today on asian built instruments. This site talks about the six Gold “K” electric guitars that were built between 1957 to 1963 as well as the Thin Twin and the Jose Silva Banjos.

Kay had got Barney Kessel, the top guitarist in the late 50’s, to endorse three models (Jazz Special, Artist, and Pro) of the series. This only lasted for three years then Kessel left to join Gibson. All of the Gold line are quality instruments using the same hardware found on the top guitars of that era. The main problem commonly found with Kays are neck joints needing reset. All the Gold models besides the bass had single coil pick-ups with a clear-silver plastic cover and adjustable pole pieces via a philips-head bolt. The Upbeat also came with an optional transparent-black plastic cover. These pick-ups appeared on many other Kay made instruments through to the late 60’s and are sometimes referred to as Kessel or Kleenex Box. The Jazz Special Bass has one single coil chrome pick-up. The 1950’s models generally had thick necks, but the Jazz II had a much slimmer neck.

Vintage 1962 Silvertone Kay Electric Guitar SWEET!!

Vintage 1960’s ORPHEUM Archtop Electric Guitar KAY AIRLINE

Here are todays listings on eBay - Place a bid on one you like.

KRAVITZ,LENNY- LENNY CD -NEW US $18.83 End Date: Thursday Nov-20-2008 23:43:32 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

TELA - PIECE OF MIND [REMASTER] - CD *NEW US $13.88 End Date: Thursday Nov-20-2008 23:44:51 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

COMET GAIN- REALISTES CD -NEW US $16.04 End Date: Thursday Nov-20-2008 23:56:41 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

BAKER,CHET- ART OF THE BALLAD:CHET BAKER CD -NEW US $12.99 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 0:07:12 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

GURU- JAZZMATAZZ 2 CD -NEW US $12.99 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 0:33:30 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

DVORAK,MARK- WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD:FAMILY FOLK SA CD US $18.17 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 1:44:14 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

LONESOME SPURS- LONESOME SPURS CD -NEW US $12.99 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 2:09:50 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

BINDER,DENNIS- HOLE IN THAT JUG CD -NEW US $16.04 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 2:11:46 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

JOHN,ELTON- TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION (RMST) CD -NEW US $11.13 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 2:12:06 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

SINCE BY MAN- WE SING THE BODY ELECTRIC CD -NEW US $15.88 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 2:16:33 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

Mainline 20 ft Noiseless Cable - CHOOSE BLUE OR GREEN!! US $7.99 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 3:08:14 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

, Audio CD, The Artistry of Stan Getz: The Best of the US $11.28 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 4:08:36 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

Fuzzy , Audio CD, Fuzzy US $25.74 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 4:10:14 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

Poster Children , Audio CD, Daisychain Reaction US $2.99 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 4:29:04 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

Mel Tormé , Audio CD, Velvet & Brass US $2.99 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 4:33:49 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

Mainline 20 ft Pro Guitar Cable with Gold-Tipped Ends US $7.50 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 4:34:03 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

Wayman Tisdale , Audio CD, Power Forward US $2.99 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 4:34:06 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

Kyle Eastwood , Audio CD, From There to Here US $2.99 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 4:46:00 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

SPECTER,DAVE- SPECULATIN CD -NEW US $16.51 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 5:37:36 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

Strait Out of the Box [Box] - Strait, George (CD 1995) US $4.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 6:30:06 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

KENTON,STAN- NEW CONCEPTS CD -NEW US $13.73 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 7:31:23 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

STEPPENWOLF GOLD DISC MFSL 1ST LP. MASTER RECORDING US $108.01 (8 Bids) End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 7:46:08 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Vintage Blonde Kay Harmony Stella Regal Parlor Guitar US $37.99 (10 Bids) End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 7:48:42 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

PELL,DAVE/KATZ,DICK- LOVE STORY / PIANO & PEN CD -NEW US $16.52 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 7:50:23 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

MORRISON,VAN- ASTRAL WEEKS CD -NEW US $12.85 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 7:55:50 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

1956 CHRISTMAS TIME ALL TOY CATALOGUE HUBLEY IDEAL ETC. US $9.25 (2 Bids) End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 8:00:00 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Wayne ( Charvel ) Rock Legend Custom Strat Style Guitar US $700.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 8:00:00 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

CHARLES,RAY- GENIUS ANTHOLOGY CD -NEW US $16.52 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 8:07:41 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

Insecticide - Nivana (CD 1992)*** US $3.99 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 8:10:44 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

SPECTER,DAVE- SPECULATIN CD -NEW US $16.97 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 8:29:06 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list