Product: Kay L9135
Price Paid: (27 GBP) used
Submitted
02/22/2005
at
04:59am
by
Mike Malcolm
Features
:
7
A 60's Chicago made Gibson SJ200 copy. Handmade with solid timbres, the top is one piece spruce and the sides probably mahogany. Whole guitar is finished in tobacco sunburst. Varnish has sunk into the wood making a vintage satin typr finish. White pickguard has been screwed into place and has large Kay logo on it. Tuners are cheap open back types. Neck (with old break repair) is standard jumbo size and quite comforatble. Bridge is archtop unfixed type.
Sound
:
8
To be fair, this guitar hasn't really been played in years until I got it last week. I've reset the neck and put a new set of strings on. It became apparent quite quickly that the action will always be quite high on this regardless of what I do...so...it is now my slide/open tunings guitar. Sound is quite trebly at the moment but sustain and tone seems to improve each time I play it.....very convincing slide tone.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
7
All handmade, well executed purfling and bracing. Exterior showing wera and tear after 40 years...Headstock logo missing.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
It lasted 40, it will probably last another 40. This is the sort of guitar you'd fling in the back seat of a car and take to a picnic without bothering with a case. It is beat up but still good. I wouldn't use it live (except for slide tunes) cos i have two other better acoustics.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
N/a Kay haven't produced guitars in the USA since the mid-60's.
Overall Rating
:
7
OK so I love buying guitars! This is now my 14th (my 4th acoustic). I couldn't resist the ebay bargain of #27. I knew it needed some work, but I used this as an opportunity to try out some luthier skills I'd have been afraid to do on more expensive guitars. USA made Kay guitars are quite rare here in the UK (especially SJ200 copies). I did find a site in the USA which is selling them for $400 dollars which surprised me. It is really going to be useful in the slide/open tuning category. It has a more convincing slide tone than any of my other acoustics. I wouldn't be heartbroken if it were lost of stolen, but I do like the aestethics of the round bodied SJ200 shape and am delighted to welcome it into my collection.....I will probably at some point treat it to a new bridge and try and find a replacement vintage logo to make it look intact again.
