Kay Kraft

Features out the wazoo

Interesting old Chicago-made sound

Back when things were made with pride.

There still around and being played.

All of the people who work at Kay are dead, so service is slow.

THIS IS NOT A REVIEW! IT IS PURELY AN INFORMATIONAL WRITING ON THE 1930'S KAY KRAFT VENETIAN STYLE A, B, & C GUITARS. THESE BEAUTIFUL ARCHTOP GUITARS ARE IDENTIFIED BY THEIR ODD TWO-POINT BODIES WITH ADJUSTABLE TILTING NECKS. THEY USUALLY ADORN A GOLD SCROLL DECAL FILAGREE ON THE LOWER BOUT, AND A WHITE PEARL ACETATE HEADSTOCK COVERING WITH THE WORD "KAY KRAFT" IN GOLD LETTERS.

Price Usually Paid: US $125-$500 on-line auctions and in guitar shops.

It's about time someone gave an explanation of theses beautiful and interesting shaped acoustic archtops from the 30's, so I guess I'll fill you in with what I know. I also give you a little Kay history to boot. (SORRY FOR ANY POSSIBLE ERRORS. HARMONY CENTRAL WON'T LET ME REVISE THIS WRITING).

Kay officially formed in 1931 (some say 1929), but its actual history dates back to The Groehsl Co. founded in 1890. In 1921, Groehsl renamed to Stromberg-Voisinet Co. located in Chicago, IL. Henry Kuhrmeyer was Treasurer, and later President of Stromberg-Voisinet.

The name Stromberg is NOT to be confused with the archtop guitars of Charles and Elmer Stromberg of STROMBERG AND SON of Boston. There is NO connection I have ever found.

FYI... Groehsl is written 3 different ways;
Groehsl (on instrument labels),
Groeschl (Chicago City directory), and
Goeshel (in company literature)

Henry Kuhrmeyer lent his middle name (Kay) to their most popular line which was Kay Kraft. The line included 3 guitars priced in 1930 from $25.00 - $45.00. These 3 instrument are what is being discussed here.

Also in the line were normal shaped flattop guitars, tenor guitars, mandolins, banjos, banjolins, and other odd stringed instruments.

Some of these venetian guitars had other names written on the headstock, such as "Recording King". I believe they were renamed for sale in specific department stores and for catalog sales.

To clarify, Kay Kraft is NOT a company. It is a line of stringed instruments made by Stromberg-Voisinet, and named after the President of the company. A few years after the Kay Kraft line emerged, the name Stromberg Voisinet was changed to Kay Musical Instruments.

There are 3 models of these venetian guitars;
STYLE A- mahogany back and sides,
STYLE B- maple back and sides,
STYLE C- rosewood back and sides.

While Style A is most common, and Style C is most sought after, there are very few Style Bs around. The few I've seen are heavily flamed maple, and are absolutely stunning, at least in pictures.

The guitar styles A-C each incorporate;
-a white double-bound, two-point body,
-a black acetate two screw pickguard with 3 rubber stand offs,
-a white acetate headstock overlay with gold writing,
-a bound sound hole,
-a bone nut,
-a 25-3/4" scale, 19 fret neck (14 frets to the body), with neck tilt adjustment mechanism,
-a 1-11/16" wide neck at the nut,
-a 2-7/16" wide neck at the end of the fret extension,
-a bound rosewood (or similar wood) fingerboard,
- three per side, chrome, open-back, strip tuners with white plastic buttons,
-no internal bracing on the inside of the back,
- kerffed lining holding the top and back to the sides,
-a plain chromed trapeeze tailpiece,
-a wooden strap button at the tail block (bottom of the body),
-a 14-3/8" wide lower bout (+/- a 16th or two)
-an overall length of approx 40", discluding strap button.

There are usually two lables found inside the body;

One is a round blue foil label which reads Manufactured by Stromberg Voisinet or Kay Kraft, and the word "Chicago" .

The other is blue-bordered white square label with directions for adjusting the neck's tilt mechanism. It also says Patent Applied For, and the name of the company again.

As I stated above, some labels inside the bodies of these venetian guitars read "Stromberg-Voisinet", and others read "Kay Musical Instruments". I have found no proof that the Kay labeled instruments are newer, but it would make sense.

The double point venetian body shape was designed by an Italian-born violin maker named Joseph Zorzi (1878-1977) who supervised archtop production for Kay at the time.

Most of these guitars have a tobacco sunburst finish. Most have a gilt foliate decal fillagree around the bottom side of the lower bout. This decal incorporates gold leaves and vines with two indian heads facing each other on each side of the tailpiece (look closely). On some guitars, the decal runs onto the black pickguard, and I've also seen some extend up to the upper bass bout. I don't know why this is.

There is also another decal pattern found on some of these instruments which is seldom seen that includes colors, It is hard to describe, but I can say that it is VERY Deco looking.

These guitars were originally made to compete with the Epiphone Recording series guitars, which were a more expensive / better quality instrument.

Some other manufacturers copied the two-pointed venetian body shape, like B&J, a jobber out of New York. Some of these copies had F holes and others had normal sound holes. Some had arched tops and backs, while others had flat tops and backs.

There was also a smaller instrument known as a Key Kord, which is an overly-complicated push-button baritone guitar (I have one). It uses this same body shape, but has a flat top and back. It appears to be all mahogany.

BTW... The arched tops and backs of these guitars and mandolins are NOT carved, they're pressed!!! This was a more cost-effective way of creating an arch in those days.

The guitar tops are ladder braced, not X or fan braced like most other acoustics.

The neck incorporates a tilt (slider) mechanism which allows the player to quickly change the action height in order to turn the guitar into a slide guitar or standard playing guitar. One simply loosens the strings, then loosens the big wingnut inside the body (located through the sound hole on the neck block) and tilts the neck to the desired angle by pushing or pulling on the neck's heel.

On some models, you can even turn the saddle on the floating bridge upside down to reveal a non-compensated saddle (for playing slide guitar). On the reverse side of the saddle, it's compensated for better intonation when fretting.

There doesn't seem to be a truss rod of any kind, as these necks warp fairly easily. There may be a truss support of some kind, but I have never taken apart one of these necks.

Another problem is that the fret extension (the fretboard which extends over the body) seems to lift upward on many of these guitars, which can make the higher register buzz badly or even cancel. (there is an easy fix for this).

The gilt foliate decal fillagree around the bottom side of the lower bout can be found on some Kay Kraft resonator banjos. It is also seen on some Oahu guitars (a Cleveland-based company), probably because they were made in the Kay factory for Oahu.

The headstock's shape is unique to the Kay Kraft line. Where other manufacturers had plain square-shouldered headstocks without much adornment, these instruments had fancy white pearloid acetate coverings. Some say the multipoint headstock shape looks like ocean waves, so in some circles, it has been dubbed "the wave" headstock.

These guitars came with an black aligator shelled, purple felt lined, chipboard case.

These guitars and their cases often have a very musty, old, funky smell. Probably due to mold spores growing in the case.

The pickguard contours the treble side venetian point, and has a straight cut top which runs across the treble side of the sound hole. Who would cover a sound hole?

I have seen two styles of floating bridges on these guitars. One, I've heard, refered to as an oval sway bridge, and the other is a traditional floating style, which is made out of plastic and has a flip compensated / non-compensated saddle with two height adjusters. I have no idea what an "oval sway bridge" means. Do you?

All in all, these guitars are visually stunning, a blast to play, and are gaining in value fast. Even though they have that "early Chicago made, somewhat boxy sound", a good player can make them sing.


Please direct all inquiries to Dean (The Gee-tah Guy) at guitartech@earthlink.net

Made in 1930's? in U.S.A.. I think it has a Maple Body with Mahogany neck. I think sun burstfinish.It has a cutaway body style. Steal strings.The fret bar is adjustable for string height by means of a large wing nut made accessable through the round sound hole.

I am just learning to play and from what others who can play tell me, they say it sounds real good.

I am not sure how it was set up in the factory. As I bought it at an antique store it did have a few scratches and nicks. Other than that everything seems original. Although the name Kay Kraft is worn off the head. There is also a lovly gold leaf guilding on the body. In the guilding are two indian heads as part of the leafing.

Yes it will withstand live playing. Yes the hardware is sound for some time to come yet and yes the finish for it's age is in very good condition. The pick guard is still installed and is firm as is the strap button. I think I can depend on it as I don't play hard and I do take care of it. If I could play it properly yes I woud use it on a solo gig.

I have never delt with this company and I have never had to get it repaired. It had new strings on it when I bought it.
There is no warrenty on it either, considering it's age

I have just started taking lessons. I also own a Washburn by Oscar Schmut, and I just purchased another old parolor guitar called an Espana made in approx 1965. No there wasn't anything I wanted to ask about the guitar. I just liked the looks of it and the sound of it. The man I bought it from could play and I liked the sound it made in his store.Yes if it were lost or stolen I would like to get another one. I like the cutaway style and the gold leaf guilding on it. I think the fact that you can raise and lower the neck without cutting back the nut is a neat feature. Although I don't know if this will make the body and neck weak with no support rod.
after you read this submission could you please give me some more information on this guitar and tell me if I paid too much for it. and if you could send me any pictures of this model if any are available.