Kay Truetone build

[Braddd]

Hi, I’m new on here, thanks for the add. What a great resource. I’m currently fumbling through my first couple of builds (JMs), but my sister is angling for a Kay Truetone or similar 60s Kay Lo fi model. Does anyone have any leads or tips for obtaining specs or tips. Cheers, Braddd

[fuzzjunkie]

I had a Kay “Red Devil” Truetone. It’s a thin line hollow body, not one of the offset style Kay brand guitars.

https://reverb.com/item/15354732-1960-s ... shell-case

Mine had been modded with dice knobs and P90 pickups and a Gibson selector switch, which all probably helped playability but hurt the collector value. It had a V-neck, which not everyone likes, and I always kept flat wound strings on it and kept it in G tuning, but it was a cool guitar.

The build quality was okay, it had a 60s vibe, but it definitely wasn’t a Gretsch or a Gibson, even with the P90s. It had a raw punk-a-billy/rock-a-billy tone that was fun and it was the guitar everyone wanted to buy off me because it looked so different from other hollow body guitars.

I don’t think anyone makes a pickup like Kay used, but a Goldtone or Lipstick style pickup would sound similar and those are available.

[jesterpunk68]

Check reverb, they have some from $250 up to $20K


https://reverb.com/marketplace/electric ... rice%7Casc

[antisymmetric]

There's a Kay guitars Facebook page which might be useful to you. Also another to do with modified Harmonys/ Kays, something like that. Both are good.

[Braddd]

Thanks folks, tips appreciated

[TeenageShutdown!]

I had a Kay “Red Devil” Truetone. It’s a thin line hollow body, not one of the offset style Kay brand guitars.

https://reverb.com/item/15354732-1960-s ... shell-case
It had a raw punk-a-billy/rock-a-billy tone that was fun and it was the guitar everyone wanted to buy off me because it looked so different from other hollow body guitars.

No doubt, that’s a bad ass looking guitar!