Kent Unknown Hollow Body

Unknown production date, but apparently made in Japan or Korea (writing on one of the volume/tone pots near the f-hole). Double-cutaway (Gibson 335 copy), no serial number to be found. Twenty-two (22) frets, H/H configuration. Deep cherry finish - very nice to look at. Tune-o-matic bridge, unknown tuners (I'm no expert on those), but they don't seem to be original; one misfit tuner that was put on at the shop before I bought the guitar. Fairly fat neck; the finish was worn through all up and down the neck from the thumb of the previous owner - I think it gives the guitar character. No accessories to speak of - all I got was a cheap gig bag, but that's not the guitar's fault.

Sounds beautiful. Clean tones can go anywhere you want, even with the ancient pickups. Also sounds great with the distortion kicked up - nice and thick. It sounds beautiful without an amp, so that should be an indication of its sound. One gripe - the electronics are finicky; on any given day, one of the three pickups selections can give out and come back sporadically. Doesn't affect sound - just momentarily shuts it off. But, made up for by beauty of sound in general.

This guitar is older than I am, so I have no idea how it was set up at the factory. No comments on the action, since it's fully adjustable. There is a little buzzing problem I haven't fixed yet, but I'm pretty sure that's due to the fact that I haven't adjusted the truss rod at all yet. In general, guitar looks very good - finish is beautiful, except for the flaw on the neck (see "Features"). Little bit of rust on the ancient pickups, bridge isn't as shiny as I'm sure it used to be. Nothing big.

I don't know if I'd ever use it live - I'd be too scared of something happening to it. The finish on the body is absolutely pristine, and I'd hate for something to happen to it. Also, the thing with the pickup selector is enough to at least make me gun-shy. Also, the strap buttons so tiny that they make me nervous of the guitar falling off and hitting the floor; I'm investing in Straploks in the near future. However, it would make a superb recording guitar.

N/A.

I wish I'd tried to con the dealer into giving me some extra stuff to go with my guitar - all I got was the guitar and cheap gig bag. I love the finish and the sound, and the neck-wear makes me daydream about the person who owned it before me; what they played on it, why they sold it, etc. The electronics, tuners, and strap buttons will need to be overhauled, and the neck needs a proper adjustment, but overall it's a great guitar with a beautiful character and sound. I have to be honest; I bought it on a whim. I'd originally been looking for an acoustic/electric, and I saw this in the shop and had to have it. It was literally hanging in the back corner of the shop, all alone : ( Now it has a happy home : )

Hello. I have 2 Kent 12-string guitars. One is an acoustic 12 with
the strangest body shape i have ever seen, made with very fine woods
of the "flamed" kind. I have had this guitar since 1964-65, but it
was used when I got it; I needed a replacement for my 1962 Epiphone 12-string acoustic which kept blowing the bridge when tuned to A=440.
But even more strange is that this guitar was sold to me as a "Hofner"
with a "Hofner" decal placed over the mother-of-pearl "Kent" inlay,
and a "Hofner" round sticker placed inside the round hole which reads:
"Hofner Anno, Made in Germany". I was polishing the headstock one day and I discovered the decal was being "erased" by the polishing compound and saw the "Kent" logo underneath. Well: this Kent "Hofner" guitar plays better than any Martin, Guild, Epiphone, Gibson, or Rickenbacker acoustic 12 that I have ever played. It also has a very strong mid-range sound, which produces many harmonics specifically around the 5th through the 7th frets. The "sweet-spot" I suppose.
Anybody know about this "Hofner" marketing practice in the 1960's ?
My other Kent 12-string is a double-cutaway (pointed) electric in
"TV Cream" color which I also love. Both guitars have the "zero-fret"
which makes for very comfortable F chords on the 1st fret. If you've
ever tried to play an F chord in a Martin or Gibson 12-stringer, you
know what I mean. I am looking for Left-Handed Kents. I will trade
my Right-Handed 12-String Electric Kent for same but Lefty. My two
Kents are in mint condition and I expect the same from any trade or
purchase. Pictures are available.
contact me at: jamwc@bellsouth.net

I have a Kent 12-String, Hollow body electric. It was bought for $150 back in 1968. It was meant to be a 'low end' guitar' but it blows away so called 'low end' stuff of today. It is indeed light weight as the previous review said but, the finish on mine is gorgeous, barely a crack. It has 2 Kent pickups that sound very ricenbacheresque.......is that a word? the word Kent is in pearl written on the left fin...not humps!! This is a double cutaway with sharp fins....very cool

Sounds great, I recently refurbished it....new strings, new set up/bridge and used it on tape....very groovey. Had a been of a 'staying in tune problem' but I suppose that could be fixed

Action is fantastic, plays like a 6 strings, and, as I've said , the finish on mine 34 years later is beautiful!

34 years old. Nuff said

Nevr had the need to meet Messrs Kent

I love this guitar...very retro ...if you find one on ebay, buy it fix it up and have fun!

In 1999 I purchased a used lefty Kent hollow body electric guitar from a store in London, Ontario, Canada. I was told the guitar was made in the '70s and had previously been owned by a local collector. I've been looking for more info on the history of Kent guitars ever since, but with little success. So far I believe that Kent guitars were a subdivision of Teisco and were manufactured in Japan in the 1960s-1970s. They seem to be lower end beginner model guitars, cheap, and apparently rare.

The model I have is translucent cherry red with white binding and a raised white (now off-white with age) pick guard. It looks like a knock off of a gibson ES-335 Block, only with a wood bridge saddle and the white pick guard. The guitar body is made of a low quality wood (I always joke it's made of cardboard), making the guitar extremely light. The pickups appear to have chrome plated plastic coverings. There is a three way toggle selector and two sets of volume and tone knobs (also light plastic). There is no serial number and no other information on the guitar, other then the Kent logo on the black headstock.

In my search I've discovered very few other Kent models; a Gibson SG copy, a "Horrible Kent 12-string", a "Kent Vegas 530", and a Kent Baritone uke. I also found this on a hard rock cafe website: "Pete Townshend - A natural finish Kent destroyed the guitar on stage and threw it into the audience during a Who performance in New York around 1968." ;p

If anyone has any further information on Kent guitars, please contact me at ardour@hotmail.com.

I originally purchased this as a second guitar (I also own a Tele). Keeping in mind I'm a lefty, it's not hard to see why I went for a this guitar. Lefties are rare and usually expensive. This Kent was cheap and I get a kick out of it.