Kapa Minstrel 1968 - Metallic Coper Fade

KAPA

“Minstrel”

1968

“RARE”

“Coppertone” (Incredible vibrant copper metal sparkle fade).

Made in the USA.

THE ONLY ONE.

 From my personal collection of Vintage KAPA Guitars, I am selling another one of my rare “Minstrel teardrop-shaped” guitar.

The 1960’s were a time of innovation and duplication in the worldwide guitar marketplace. One copy would innovate, and another would copy that innovation.

Then there were those who were the “assimilators”. Like Koob Veneman. From behind the counter of his Veneman’s Music Emporium in Maryland, he saw the trends as they started and blossomed. And those trends become the molds that Mr. Veneman used for creating his own guitar line. You see his guitar shapes and you think Fender, VOX, Gibson, etc. You play one of his guitars and you hear the sounds of those brands. But more so, you feel build quality that rose above most US guitar builders. He built the bodies in his factory and then assembled them using the highest quality hardware he could get, like Hofner PIX pickups and tremolos, Schaller tuners, etc.

This one came soon after the Rolling Stones and other UK bands showed up with VOX “teardrop” shaped guitars. Veneman saw the appeal of those guitars and began his own line named “Minstrel”.

They are amazing guitars that sound, and play, better I think than their progenitors.

For this one, I enlisted the creative experience and expertise of Kevin Smith of TONESMITH GUITARS, who delivered a rejuvenation of one of my original Minstrels. Kevin completely disassembled this guitar, cleaned the electronics, resolder loose joints, cleaned and polished all hardware, dressed the frets and cleaned the fretboard. The neck and headstock were shot with a fresh finish of clearcoat but kept the headstock logo decal as it was originally.

The result? A new 1968 guitar which is stunning in appearance and shimmering with tone. These Hofner pickups are loud and wild.

HISTORY AND INFORMATION OF KAPA GUITAR COMPANY

ABOUT KAPA Guitars

1. KAPA Guitars was founded in 1963 by a Dutch immigrant named Koob Veneman.

2. Mr. Veneman was the owner of Veneman's Music Emporium, a musical instrument store in Silver Spring Maryland.

3. During the early 1960’s Veneman made the decision to build his own unique line of guitars. This was the years of the British Invasion, and the Guitar Boon and Mr. Veneman wanted his piece of the pie.

4. Many of the guitars in stock at the Veneman store consisted of guitars that were imported from Germany and Italy.

5. The connections with these companies provided him with an excellent opportunity to purchase supplies from overseas manufacturers. His plan was to order guitar parts from European suppliers, assemble them in Edmonston Maryland where the guitars bodies were created.

6. KAPA guitars were at a plant on 46th Avenue in the town of Edmonston, Maryland.

7. The necks, pickups and electronics originally came from German manufacturer Hofner.

8. The guitars generally were equipped with two slider switches to control on/off function of the pickups, which is typical of Hofner's design of the 1960’s.

11. The tuners were made by Schaller for the guitar.

12. Veneman named the company after himself, wife and children by using an anagram of their first names. Of course, his name is Koob, his son’s name, Albert, his daughters name, Patricia and his wife’s name Adeline. Later Koob’s brother joined the family business.

13. KAPA necks are ultra-thin, which is sort of a ’60 thing. Guitarists wanted to play fast and for some odd reason, manufacturers equated this with skinny necks instead of low action.

14. The bodies also were thin in comparison to Fender and Gibson bodies but just like VOX necks.

15. KAPA went out of business in 1970 and its assets were sold to MICROFRETS and MOSRITE. It is a small world.

 TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

Does not come with case. Will ship in gig bag. `

NOTE 1: I am not a DEALER. This guitar comes directly from my PERSONAL COLLECTION consisting of 1,600+ pieces. Thank you for viewing this auction and please look at the other items I have for sale on ebay and Reverb at this time.

TRY IT OUT POLICY.

Understanding the normal hesitation of buying a guitar without first playing it, I want to make sure my guitars make you happy. To accomplish that, I want you to try this one for 72 hours (three days). Play it, hold it, walk around with it on your back, sleep with it-whatever it takes for you to make sure it suits you. During that time, you can return them for a full refund of your payment price (but of course they need to be treated well while you have them, as I expect you will) less shipping cost and you must pay the cost to ship it back to us.

If it arrives damaged, please let me know immediately by email. Be sure to hold onto all packing material and the box. I will contact the shipper for an inspection. Remember that this can take up to a couple of weeks, but I will rush it along.

Minor problems. If there is a problem with it when it arrives, e.g., loose wires etc. then I will work with you to get it repaired by someone in your area.