Murph Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 A guy I know sent me this pic. Thats the bridge up there on the headstock held with rubber bands. He thinks it's from the 40's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Man Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Looks like an old Kay to me. https://www.ebay.com/itm/324911069360 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Yeah, I would lean to Kay if only because of what is more than likely a pressed laminate tiger faux flame top. Prior to around 1972, Harmony never built with laminate wood so more often as not you are going to see some kind of a shaded top. Both used generic hardware so not much help when it comes to making an ID. The nice thing about Harmonys is they went with model number stamps and often a date stamp. With Kays you are most likely going to get only a number with an "L", "P" or "N" prefix such as that in the eBay listing. This, however, was not a model designation. The problem is nobody has yet been able to figure out what that number means. The best way to date the guitar would be the headstock as Kay used probably half a dozen different styles from the late 1930s on. You would just need more interest than I can muster up to wade through what is out there to try and sort it all out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 The blonde fretboard tells me 1960 or later. Large tortoise markers too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted October 26, 2022 Author Share Posted October 26, 2022 Well done. I think you nailed it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 If I had to guess, I would say a Kay K6868 Style Leader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Yes, nothing like a good "pressed laminate tiger faux flame top" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted October 27, 2022 Author Share Posted October 27, 2022 He said he's gonna drop a few bucks in it, neck reset and such, and get it playing again. I'll update as I get the chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 Out of idle curiosity - never having owned an arch top - how much would one like that go for, fixed up ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 $300 - $400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 OK, Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted October 28, 2022 Author Share Posted October 28, 2022 Just now, fortyearspickn said: OK, Thanks ! Bwahahahaha. I hadn't spoken with my buddy who bought that one yet. He's dropping a few bucks in it, don't know how far he'll go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 A really tempting little diversion from what I do. Thanks for the gas ! Upon further investigation - could go as high as $900 !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 My favorite Kay archtops are the two art deco carved top Television models dating to the late-1930s and the earlier round soundhole Kay Kraft Venetians. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted October 28, 2022 Author Share Posted October 28, 2022 I've been wanting an Epiphone for a while. Don't see a lot around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 20 minutes ago, Murph said: I've been wanting an Epiphone for a while. Don't see a lot around here. One of my Gibson & Epiphone Guitars is the Epiphone “Inspired by Paul Mc Cartney” Texan.. It was relatively inexpensive.. But is well built & is a very good Player.. Many Acoustics have a muddy low end sound.. This one doesn’t. Very clean sounding Acoustic Guitar.. Currently it is on loan to my Granddaughter who is learning to play.. It has a very good neck for a beginning Guitar Player… Thin, low frets & easy to chord… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted October 28, 2022 Author Share Posted October 28, 2022 2 minutes ago, Larsongs said: One of my Gibson & Epiphone Guitars is the Epiphone “Inspired by Paul Mc Cartney” Texan.. It was relatively inexpensive.. But is well built & is a very good Player.. Many Acoustics have a muddy low end sound.. This one doesn’t. Very clean sounding Acoustic Guitar.. Currently it is on loan to my Granddaughter who is learning to play.. It has a very good neck for a beginning Guitar Player… Thin, low frets & easy to chord… I've heard good things. Actually I meant an Epi archtop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 2 hours ago, Larsongs said: One of my Gibson & Epiphone Guitars is the Epiphone “Inspired by Paul Mc Cartney” Texan.. It was relatively inexpensive.. But is well built & is a very good Player.. Many Acoustics have a muddy low end sound.. This one doesn’t. Very clean sounding Acoustic Guitar.. Currently it is on loan to my Granddaughter who is learning to play.. It has a very good neck for a beginning Guitar Player… Thin, low frets & easy to chord… I'm giving my granddaughter (11 in December) weekly lessons. You must have a great grand daughter. Ours has my wife's 50 year old Harmony and bangs it once or twice each lesson. I'm hoping, as she begins to actually ENJOY playing the guitar, she'll be more careful. Clearly - these guitars from the 40s in almost perfect shape were never loaned out to a tween. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Larsongs said: One of my Gibson & Epiphone Guitars is the Epiphone “Inspired by Paul Mc Cartney” Texan.. It was relatively inexpensive.. But is well built & is a very good Player.. Many Acoustics have a muddy low end sound.. This one doesn’t. Very clean sounding Acoustic Guitar.. Currently it is on loan to my Granddaughter who is learning to play.. It has a very good neck for a beginning Guitar Player… Thin, low frets & easy to chord… I have owned two Epis over the past 20 or so years both dating to the 1950s - a Triumph Regent archtop and FT-79 flattop. The Triumph was a mid-level instrument with carved top and back plates, Frequensator tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners. Even though Gibson initially adopted the FT-79 model number for the Texan, my NYC-built version has more in common with a Guild F40 than a slope shoulder jumbo. One of those guitars which does not do anything terribly well but sounds so good trying. Edited October 28, 2022 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 (edited) Pricewise, it's insane that you can buy a vintage USA made archtop with a solid carved top for peanuts. I've found two closet queens, both needing neck resets. Both were around $400. Seems like Harmony and Regals didn't worry about the fit up of the necks figuring the glue would hold it long enough to get sold. My first find was a '38 Harmony Cremona VI. Looked like it had never been played and the neck was loose. My luthier talked me out of it and did some work on another guitar for me. He added a pickup and used it for a few years when out playing. g The second one is a '41 Regal Recording King. Once again around $400, closet queen, loose neck. I sold the tuners and case which more than covered the cost of the guitar and paid for most of the neck reset. Edited October 28, 2022 by Dave F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 1 hour ago, Dave F said: Pricewise, it's insane that you can buy a vintage USA made archtop with a solid carved top for peanuts. I've found two closet queens, both needing neck resets. Both were around $400. Seems like Harmony and Regals didn't worry about the fit up of the necks figuring the glue would hold it long enough to get sold. My first find was a '38 Harmony Cremona VI. Looked like it had never been played and the neck was loose. My luthier talked me out of it and did some work on another guitar for me. He added a pickup and used it for a few years when out playing. g The second one is a '41 Regal Recording King. Once again around $400, closet queen, loose neck. I sold the tuners and case which more than covered the cost of the guitar and paid for most of the neck reset. Did you know the Cremonas and Clippers were carved tops? They were really nice. I had a art deco Harmony Clipper archtop. It sported the Airplane on the peg head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 54 minutes ago, slimt said: Did you know the Cremonas and Clippers were carved tops? They were really nice. I had a art deco Harmony Clipper archtop. It sported the Airplane on the peg head. Yes I did. That's what made me buy it. Both my guitars had maple back and sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 (edited) I learned to play on old Gibson & Epiphone Archtop Acoustics in the Service Clubs when I was in the Army way back when! Funny, I have several Archtop Electrics but all my Acoustics are Flat Tops.. Now I’ve got GAS to go play some Archtop Acoustics! Are there any good new ones worth looking at that aren’t too crazy in price? Thanks! Edited October 29, 2022 by Larsongs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted October 29, 2022 Author Share Posted October 29, 2022 14 hours ago, Dave F said: Pricewise, it's insane that you can buy a vintage USA made archtop with a solid carved top for peanuts. You just reminded me of a Harmony that was in my family when I was young. It was a great guitar for anything. It had a pickup, maybe two, don't remember. My Dad smashed it into a car windshield (yea, was a cool car, too) to make a point. Point was made... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted October 29, 2022 Author Share Posted October 29, 2022 7 hours ago, Larsongs said: Now I’ve got GAS to go play some Archtop Acoustics! Don't feel bad. I'm getting the itch myself, and I STARTED the thread..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.