Kay Calypso

This guitar was made around 1965. I can't make out the serial number inside, but I've seen a catalogue page from that year regarding this model. It was made by Kay in Chicago. There are 14 frets to the body. Most sellers claim this is a solid-spruce top. The soundhole has binding, but I tend to think it is indeed solid spruce. Not sure about the body, but I think it is mahogany laminate. The tech at Matt Umanov said the neck was poplar, so I'll go with that. The body is a mini-jumbo shape, a bit deeper than one might expect. The neck is quite broad--classical guitar size--and chunky as any Kay. It has a slotted headstock, open-geared tuners that hold a tuning extremely well. There is a lot of checking to the semi-gloss finish, and the guitar has seen a lot of use and shows it, but it is beautiful wood, both front and especially the back, which has almost holographic detail to the grain--it really looks 3 dimensional from certain angles of light. The bridge is pegless, with screws fixing it to the body. Someone drilled through the heel of the neck years ago and bolted it to the neck block inside the body. Not a great job but the join is still solid. Action is a little high, so I may spring for a full neck reset at some point. Someone added a second strap button, which I like.

The top is cross-braced, and the guitar was designed for both nylon and steel strings (per the catalogue). I initially had bronze wound strings on it, often used it as a slide guitar due to the medium action, but when I changed it to silk/steel strings, I found the ideal set up for this guitar. The body is bound top and back, as is the soundhole.

The rating reflects the distinctive character of the instrument, and how the design produces a terrific sound. The guitar was priced at about $75 new in 1965, a little higher than the starter Kay and Harmony guitars. It is a wonderful folk music instrument, but it's not in the same league as an old Martin or American-made Epiphone.

I use this guitar for fingerpicked ballads, some times strummed rhythm guitar on old time country/blues/bluegrass. With silk/steel strings, it complements my voice and stands out well against other acoustic stringed instruments in my string band. It gets plenty of volume, has great harmonics on chords, full, rich resonance and sustain. The bass response is very good, not booming like a bronze-wound dreadnaught but still strong and musical.

I like everything about this instrument. Best $100 I ever spent on a guitar. It looks cool, it sounds cool. High rating because, for my intended use, it surpasses expectations.

No comment on factory set up for a battered 40 year old axe, but the action now is a bit high, although intonation is fine all the way up the neck. The pinless bridge and saddle limit how low the action might go without a neck reset. The neck angle appears to have changed just a bit, despite the bolt job cited above, but the guitar is stable. I have no difficulty playing in any position, but I have large hands; given the width of the neck and the action, another player might have trouble. I wouldn't term the top "bookmatched" as such--I'm not at home now, and the guitar top might even be a single piece of wood, but I do remember a cool "bearclaw" effect above the soundhole. There are no apparent manufacturing flaws, and the hardware has held up very well.

The guitar has performed great in shows. The sound hole is slightly smaller than more modern guitars, so rather than get yet another soundhole pickup, I play this into mikes when on a show. Totally dependable. I baby this instrument, but it is a solid guitar, not fragile. I don't gig without a backup as a rule, and this guitar doesn't fit all my music, but I love hauling it out at shows and seeing the looks on peoples faces, both before and after I play it.

It's a Kay. All support comes from fellow Kay lovers. There is a lot of info on the web about Kays, but not much regarding this model. I had it set up, and a little shaving of the saddle, and the guitar came alive.

I see these selling for over $400 at some dealers. An absolute mint one might be worth that much. But I think $2-300 is much more reasonable.

I've been playing 30 years, mostly acoustic guitar, but some electric, slide, lapsteel as well. I also play mandolin and some banjo. I own about 25 stringed instruments, 3 keyboards, 3 amps of various sizes.

I'm completely satisfied with my purchase, bought this from someone who knew it sounded good. I would be heartbroken to lose this guitar, but I would not pay $400 for another. I love every aspect, both visually and musically. I think my favorite visual aspect is the huge neck with slotted headstock--it's like holding a musical weapon or something. Musically, the open chords, especially minor chords, are amazing. Perfect Em guitar.

I wish the action were just a touch lower. A pin bridge might improve it.