~1934 Kay Kraft Venetian Style A Sunburst

Kay Kraft Style A 'Venetian' c 1934 | $ | (v2304) These unusual 'pointy' Kay Kraft Venetian guitars emerged as musical trends and their associated instruments shifted as the twentieth century progressed through its first three decades. By the late 1920s the Jazz Age was in full swing and the production of archtop guitars was snowballing as players were moving away from tenor banjos and into archtop acoustic guitars that could 'cut' through an orchestra. Stromberg-Voisinet in Chicago, which manufactured various stringed instruments, became Kay Musical Instrument Co. in 1934. The story goes that S-V had hired luthier Joseph Zorzi who had Italian roots and had been working for Lyon & Healy. Some believe that it was Zorzi who designed the 'Venetian' shape, as found on many mandolins, and that he was the one who came up with the adjustable neck found on many of these guitars. But that story has been refuted by some compelling evidence. It remains unknown who designed the 'Venetian' guitar body, and the owner of the Kay company, Henry 'Kay' Kuhrmeyer, was awarded the patent for the adjustable neck in 1933.

The Venetians were made in three styles, A, B and C, depending on type of woods used for the body. This particular example is a Style A. It appears that it was made after the move from S-V to Kay, since there is a Kay label inside. The top is laminated spruce pressed into an arch and features X-bracing. The top maintains its crown, no sagging. The top features b/w purfling and white celluloid trim and an elegant gold decalcomania decoration in the lower bout. Back and sides are laminated mahogany, with the outer ply figured mahogany and trimmed in white celluloid. The back is also pressed into an arch. Top, back and sides feature an attractive sunburst finish. The neck is mahogany, carved in a smallish 'V', topped with a slightly radiused ebonized maple fingerboard and bound in white celluloid. There are fourteen frets clear of the body. The headstock features graceful of curves, is topped with white celluloid and sports Kay Kraft and some decorative squiggles in raised gold paint. One unique feature to many of these is the adjustable neck. This is a vintage guitar that should have a bolt in it's heel! The neck heel is set in a concave plate, and by loosening the bolt, the neck can be reset to a different angle ..in minutes.. to accomodate any playing style.

The body measures 14 3/8" across at the lower bout. Scale length is a hair over 25". The neck measures 1 11/16" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 9/16" across at the saddle.

The guitar appears all original but for a likely replaced bridge, which is adjustable, and a missing pickguard and associated hardware. There are no evident repairs or damage. Evident are the requisite nicks and dings from wear and time, some case scratching on the treble-side lower bout, and some fingerboard wear, but overall a nice, clean example. We recently leveled and dressed the frets and disassembled, cleaned and lubed the tuners. The action is set at ~ 5/64".

Overall, this is an attractive vintage guitar, well made from quality materials. These round-hole archtops surely have a unique sound, favoring the nasal archtop tone, with strong mids. It's fun to fingerpick ragtime and blues, but it really shines when played in a jazz or rhythm style with a pick. A nice piece of guitar Americana whose prices remain within reach of most mortals.

Comes with a soft case.

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