Old Kraftsman 6500 1960s - Natural

**The Big News:**

This isn’t a wall-hanger Kay that needs $600 of work. I’ve already done it.

- **Neck reset** – correct angle, low comfortable action, no more Kay “ladder bridge” wedge nonsense

- **New handmade bridge** – original split beyond repair, I made a new rosewood bridge and installed it correctly

- **Full fret level, crown, and dress** – frets are level, ends are smooth, no buzz anywhere

- **New hand-cut bone nut and bone saddle** – huge upgrade in tone and sustain over original plastic

- **Upgraded rosewood bridge pins** – better coupling, looks period-correct

This is now a gig-ready, great-playing vintage dreadnought, not a project.

**The Guitar**

Cool-looking vintage Old Kraftsman Dreadnought from Kay, late 50s / early 60s. X-braced (not ladder braced), which is why these 6100s are the ones players hunt for.

**Specs**

- Top: Spruce

- Back & Sides: Mahogany

- Neck: Mahogany, large D-shape with nice shoulder

- Fingerboard: Rosewood with big dot inlays

- Bridge: *New* rosewood (handmade replacement)

- Bracing: X-braced

- Scale: 25 5/8" long scale

- Nut width: 1 5/8"

- Lower bout: 15 1/2", Depth: 4 1/4"

- Tuners: Original Deluxe strip tuners with white buttons

- Pickguard: Screw-down tortoise

- Weight: 4lbs 6oz

- Neck carve: .980" at 1st fret, 1.020" at 9th

**Condition**

Good honest player’s condition. This one’s been played hard and survived well:

- Large patches of strum wear on top, finish checking, scratches and dings throughout

- **No cracks, no major damage, no loose braces** – structurally solid after the reset

It looks like a 65-year-old guitar that was loved, because it is.

**Playability & Tone**

With the neck reset and fretwork, action is low and comfortable for a vintage long-scale dread — no fighting it. The big D neck fills the hand but the 1 5/8" nut keeps it fast.

Tone is exactly what you want from an old mahogany Kay: warm midrange, woody and dry, good clarity, medium volume that opens up when you dig in. The bone nut/saddle and rosewood pins added sustain and definition the original plastic choked off. It wants to be played hard — perfect for blues, folk, old-time, and bottleneck.

**Why Buy This One**

Most Old Kraftsman 6100s on Reverb need a neck reset and bridge work to be playable. You’re getting one that’s already had the expensive work done by hand, set up right, and ready to play today.