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.

Propellerhead Reason Rythm Combo Bundle US $27.00 (3 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 6:54:12 PDT Add to watch list

Compact Jazz: Stan Getz With Strings- rare cd US $0.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 7:15:39 PDT Add to watch list

JIMMY D LANE LONG GONE HQ-180 VINYL LP MINT US $10.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 8:10:22 PDT Add to watch list

Original 1950s 1960s Kay Kelvinator Style Logo Guitar US $36.01 (9 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 9:04:23 PDT Add to watch list

Tumbleweed Connection [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster] by E... US $1.00 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 9:17:07 PDT Add to watch list

Box Lot 170 45's Pop Rock Easy Listen Jukebox Hits VG US $25.95 (7 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 10:33:57 PDT Add to watch list

Ultimate Hits Collection Ray Charles CD Mar 1999 2Disc US $2.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 11:19:22 PDT Add to watch list

The Moody Blues Greatest Hits Live - Hall of Fame - CD! US $5.55 (10 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 11:56:24 PDT Add to watch list

1 CENT CD Godzilla: The Album - OST DAVID ARNOLD US $0.01 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 14:00:43 PDT Add to watch list

1 CENT CD Waves - Supercluster US $0.01 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 14:00:43 PDT Add to watch list

1 CENT CD The Offbeat of Avenues - Manhattan Transfer US $1.44 (3 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 14:00:53 PDT Add to watch list

1 CENT CD Three - The Butchies US $0.01 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 14:00:53 PDT Add to watch list

1 CENT CD Emergency On Planet Earth - Jamiroquai US $0.01 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 14:00:55 PDT Add to watch list

Elton John - Greatest Hits US $0.01 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 15:06:44 PDT Add to watch list

Vintage Kay Starter Series Acoustic guitar acoustic US $9.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 15:12:25 PDT Add to watch list

Elton John 1990 CD titled GREATEST HITS Your Song more US $2.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 15:34:38 PDT Add to watch list

Vintage Kay Parlor Acoustic Guitar Project Silvertone US $30.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 15:40:29 PDT Add to watch list

Project 1965 Kay K775 Jazz Special II Archtop Guitar US $295.00 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 15:45:18 PDT Add to watch list

Line 6 Variax 700 Modeling Bass Guitar--Sunburst US $455.00 (3 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 16:42:15 PDT Add to watch list

Vintage Kay Mandolin w pickup (sort of F style) US $172.50 (3 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 16:46:15 PDT Add to watch list

STEPPENWOLF - The Millennium Collection US $1.52 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 16:54:00 PDT Add to watch list

Lyon by Washburn Electric Guitar LI15 US $32.00 (6 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 17:33:53 PDT Add to watch list

First Act Electric Guitar ME537 US $15.50 (6 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 17:37:53 PDT Add to watch list

Vintage 1960s Royce Hollow Body Guitar Red Rocker US $153.50 (5 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 17:55:56 PDT Add to watch list

VINTAGE KAY N-13 ACOUSTIC GUITAR & ORIGINAL CASE US $9.95 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 18:47:04 PDT Add to watch list

57 Golden Pop Songs Accordion Arr Pietro Deiro w/Lyrics US $5.50 (3 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 19:06:07 PDT Add to watch list

Vintage Kay 5113 Hollow Body Acoustic Guitar Mahogany US $39.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 19:10:08 PDT Add to watch list

VINTAGE 1950'S KAY SHERWOOD DELUXE ARCHTOP GUITAR US $217.50 (3 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 19:30:28 PDT Add to watch list

Vintage Kay Electric Guitar With Whammy Bar US $179.00 (13 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 19:53:30 PDT Add to watch list

Vintage Kay Archtop Guitar w/ Pickup - like Jack White US $267.00 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 20:00:19 PDT Add to watch list