Kay Guitar Appraisal

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Kay K161-V Barney Kessel Artist Model Electric Guitar

This is a vintage Kay K161-V Barney Kessel Artist model electric guitar, dating from approximately 1957 to 1960. It features a full-sized archtop body with a single Florentine cutaway, finished in a classic two-tone sunburst. The guitar is notable for its 'K-up' logo on a white 'Kelvinator' style headstock with gold V-shaped chevron accents. The fretboard is rosewood with large rectangular mother-of-pearl block inlays. It is equipped with one 'Kleenex Box' style single-coil pickup in the neck position, a white pickguard featuring the Barney Kessel signature and a gold chevron logo, and two gold-toned control knobs for volume and tone. The bridge is a floating wooden base with a metal adjustable saddle, paired with a chrome trapeze-style tailpiece. Construction appears robust with multi-ply binding on the body and headstock. Condition-wise, the guitar shows signs of age-appropriate wear including some light scuffing on the body edges and minor oxidation on the metal hardware. The pickguard shows slight yellowing but remains intact. The sunburst finish retains a good gloss with minimal fading, and the overall structural integrity as viewed suggests a well-maintained instrument for its age. This model is a hallmark of Chicago-based Kay craftsmanship from the golden era of American guitar manufacturing.

Estimated Value

$4,500 - $6,000

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