NEED HELP!! Kay K-2 Electric Guitar

tiiaa1 · Last edited by tiiaa1 on Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:06 pm; edited 1 time in total

I found a Kay Electric Guitar in the attic. It has the model number K-2. It's in good condition and works when plugged into an amp. I think it used to belong to my father. I don't know anything at all about guitars. I'm thinking of selling it. Could someone please tell me a little bit about this guitar? Like how old it might be, and how much i should ask for it? Thanks Smile

I finally got a pic of it posted to the left.

SB · Jammin' Hot Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 167 Location: USA

Hi tiiaa1,

The low model number doesn't fit with a Kay Electric guitar. I think I'll need to see a picture before I can be of much help.

I only visit Guitar Site about once a week. If you want a faster response you can post at my Forum www.vintaxe.com.

Not trolling Mods, just doesn't seem to be much help here for this post.

sb

glw

tiiaa1 wrote:

I found a Kay Electric Guitar in the attic. It has the model number K-2. It's in good condition and works when plugged into an amp. I think it used to belong to my father. I don't know anything at all about guitars. I'm thinking of selling it. Could someone please tell me a little bit about this guitar? Like how old it might be, and how much i should ask for it? Thanks :)

A photo always helps.

1bassleft · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:23 am Post subject:

Quote:

Not trolling Mods, just doesn't seem to be much help here for this post

Your posts always welcome, SB, and we're always happy to punt a tricky "what have I got?" Q to your site.

SB · Jammin' Hot Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 167 Location: USA

You are right GLW, a picture does help.

tiiaa1 emailed me a picture of her guitar. It turns out the K-2 model designation was used on a 2 pup Kay SG copy built in 1979-80. I think these instruments were actually built in Korea.

When she said K-2, I was thinking of the original K-2 that was produced in the 1930's. That's why my initial thought was that the model number didn't seem right for an electric guitar. I tend to forget about the Korean made Kays marketed in the 1980's.

Mystery solved. sb

finbar · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Actually the Kay K-2 was a Taiwan made model offered in the mid 60's thru the early 70's. It came in a single pickup model (the K-1), and a model with two single pickups (the K-2). These guitars should have a metal sticker below the neck plate that has the model #, the serial # and a made in taiwan sticker. It wasn't until a few years later that production was sourced out to Korea.
On ebay, you can expect to get $150-$175. The neck and the loaded pickgaurd are by far the most valuable parts of the guitar. You would probably make more money taking the guitar apart and selling the pieces.

SB · Jammin' Hot Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 167 Location: USA

Interesting suggestion finbar, however, I haven't seen any evidence to indicate it is correct.

I checked Kay guitar catalogs from 1966, 1967-68 and 1969-70. There is no mention of a K-2. All of the guitars listed have either 3 or 4 digit model numbers. If Kay were importing K-1 and K-2 Taiwanese made guitars during this period they were not advertising them in their guitar catalogs.

Since these models are not appearing in the Kay literature, how do you know they were being imported? Just curious, I'm always willing to learn. sb

finbar · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

I could very well have been duped on the age when I bought mine, but I was told by a reputable dealer in LA that it was a late sixties model. And I have seen several on Ebay advertised as such. However, the serial number on mine begins with "80", which should imply a manufacture date of 1980, right? I'd love to know if this thing is much younger than I thought.
When i figure out how to add a photo, I'll post a photo of the metal sticker that says "Taiwan". I have seen, touched and played a few K-1's and a few K-2's and some of them had different badging, so it's kind of hard to know exactly what you have. [/pre]

SB · Jammin' Hot Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 167 Location: USA

Hey finbar,

The 1980 date fits with the other information you know about your guitar much better than the late 1960's attribution.

To start with, the American Kay company did not go out of business until 1968. At the time, they had the largest guitar production capacity in the U.S. It makes no sense that they would import guitars at a time they were having difficulty selling their own budget grade production.

After Kay went under, the name was sold to WMI of Chicago. WMI was the largest guitar company in the world at that time. They used the Kay name on beginner grade instruments from Japan (Teisco), not Tawainese imports. I don't remember anything about guitars being produced in Taiwan until the late 70's-early 80's.

So, there is nothing about your instrument that would put it in the late 60's-early 70's time frame. I think the 1980 date is correct. This is useful information to me since I was unaware the 80's Kays were first produced in Taiwan rather than Korea. Thanks Wink

Even a reputable dealer can have a salesman that is either ignorant or anxious to tell a buyer what they want to hear in order to sell a guitar.

ruppmusic · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

I have pics of an early Kay SG copy on my website (see my signature). If I remember correctly, I sold it on eBay for about $200

Also I do not recall it having a serial number which leads me to believe it was an earlier model

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