Question

I've been away for a while. I've missed you heathens.

I have a story to tell here. Last year I spoke with a friend in southern Illinois about a guitar that he's had forever. It was an old, beat-up Kay acoustic. And when I say old, I mean old. It was a 1937 model. He had often talked about restoring it but, finally came to the conclusion that he would never get it done. He offered to sell it to me. He said he wanted to be sure he got it to someone who would restore it and play it.

I didn't know at the time that it would be the last conversation I ever had with my friend. A couple of weeks after I got this beat-up guitar in my hands I was informed that he had died. So, getting it restored was now not just an honor for me but, an obligation. One that I took seriously. The restoration is now complete and I will try to get a video recorded playing it in the next week or so.

I have attached a "before" and "after" picture. I think she looks rather splendid for 81 years old.

Duke 8

Answer 1

Magnificent. I look forward to hearing you make the old girl sing in honour and memory of her first owner.

Answer 2

Very sorry for the loss of your friend. It's good that you got to see him before he died.
She's a beauty! He obviously knew he was putting her in the right hands.
Looking forward to the performance!
Glad to see you back!

Answer 3

I just saw this posted on Everything Guitar on facebook. Great job!

Answer 4

Meaningful work made even more meaningful. Good memory.

Answer 5

Welcome back and my condolences on the loss of your friend.

Answer 6

Oh my god (pardon the expression), she's beautiful!

Answer 7

Nice story! Can't say I've ever seen a configuration such as this.

Answer 8

Oh! My gosh...the guitar looks beautiful, how special... that I would imagine it is to play!

Answer 9

She is beautiful. How does she play? I just had some work done on my old girl too, but I took mine to a luthier to do it.

Answer 10

Looks awesome! Reborn, not restored. =] Nice work!

Answer 11

That's a treasure. Question: Does that one have an arched back as well?

If it's genuinely from the 30s, that would be one made right after Kay hooked up with that violin company whose name I can't remember. I had a friend with an old Kay during my pickin' an' grinnin' phase, but it had a really weird body shape. Your finished product looks yummy. Nice work. How does it sound?

Answer 12

Very nice, a fitting tribute.

Answer 13

Great looking...

Answer 14

It must be satisfying for you to honor your friends memory this way. He will live on with the sound of it. I'm proud of you! It is what I would have done.

Answer 15

Beautiful! I play a little. I have an Ibanez accoustic electric. I wonder how yours sounds?
Sorry about your friend.

Answer 16

glad you are back

Answer 17

That guitar is awesome. I love old Kay guitars.

Answer 18

Excellent, Good Tribute.

Answer 19

Awesome tribute!


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Enjoy being online again!

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Enjoy being online again!

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