Low Action, A+ intonation rocker! 1961-7 Kay K5160 with original bridge and bonus rubber bridge

Here's a Kay 5160 auditorium scale flat top from the 1960s. I think this series of Kays are very underrated and really dig their sound. I've owned a bunch of really fun 1160s over the years, but this is the first surviving 5160s I've seen. This guitar showed up in great playing condition, and pretty decent cosmetic condition except for the fretboard. The fretboards on these were very slick, black varnished poplar (pretty sure) with white painted block inlays. Over the years, someone painted this fretboard all black, then all red, then black again. Not joking (couple pictures of the excavation). I knocked down the layers of paint to the point I was comfortable with, and then recoated it thinly with a period-correct black enamel. I did my best to reproduce the blocks with white vinyl, but those can always come off. Then, I wet sanded it, buffed the hell out of it, and got it very slick. I also buffed out the neck, essentially french polishing it to get it really fast and knocked down a proud 18 to get the frets nice and level. Overall, it ain't gorgeous, but it looks pretty good and plays pretty great.

Otherwise, this thing is a joy to play. Action is very low and pretty special for a 60's Kay. They nailed the neck angle on this one. Also produces really good volume with the original high bridge (the one they used on hollowbodies of the era). Intonation is pretty much perfect. Easy on the ears and fingers. The body and neck are built like a brick house thanks to the "Kay patented crack-proof construction" (basically 2 sheets of birch on the top). This is a heavy, solid guitar that produces nice resonance and tone. The neck is bolt on (and I had to replace one of the lags (pictured).

The finish is pretty good for its age. A few bubbles, no cracks, no delam or peeling, no damage. Normal scuffs and chips, but the pinstriping is intact and pretty crisp. Ithas the original tuners, which were removed, oiled, cleaned and polished. Got the tailpiece relatively shiny.

This guitar also had the Metal "T" headstock emblem and a plastic pickguard, but they are long gone. I've been trying to salvage replacement parts, but they don't come around often. I think I saw a T logo two years ago on ebay 😄

This might be a really fun guitar to electrify, but as is, it's already a winner. I'll build a rubber bridge for it, so you can get plunky with the tone.