Kay Musical Instruments Barney Kessel Pro
Summary: In 1956, Barney Kessel was approached by Kay Musical Instruments to endorse a new line of professional level guitars. Kay made three signature guitars for Barney Kessel. The Pro, Artist, and Jazz Special. All of them had his signature engraved in the injection molded Lucite pick guard and came equipped with the now famous Kleenex Box pickups. The Barney Kessel line all had the unique "Full Kelvonator" headstock.
Body: Maple top/back/sides, fully bound, gloss Sunburst finish.
Neck: Maple with a Rosewood fingerboard, 24.75” scale length, 1.65” nut width, 18 frets, pearl block inlays.
Pickups/Hardware: Two Kleenex Box pickups, Grover open gear tuning keys, Barney Kessel silver pickguard, 2x volume/2x tone controls/3-way pickup selector, floating bridge, trapeze tailpiece.
Cosmetics: This guitar has wear that is consistent with a vintage instrument. It has lots of dings, chips, and scratches throughout. There are two small holes on the top of the body where someone must have had a different tailpiece on the guitar at some point. Besides the cosmetic issues, this guitar plays very well and sounds amazing. (See Photos Please)
Playability: Our in-house guitar tech has inspected, setup, and restrung this instrument with a new set of strings. The neck is straight, the truss rod is fully functional, and the action has been setup low and comfortable. The frets are in great shape with no major grooves or divots from use and it plays beautifully up and down the fretboard with no dead spots or choking out.
Modifications: Replacement bridge, replacement tailpiece.
Weight: 5.935 lbs.
Case: This guitar ships in a gig bag, professionally packaged, and fully insured.
Body: Maple top/back/sides, fully bound, gloss Sunburst finish.
Neck: Maple with a Rosewood fingerboard, 24.75” scale length, 1.65” nut width, 18 frets, pearl block inlays.
Pickups/Hardware: Two Kleenex Box pickups, Grover open gear tuning keys, Barney Kessel silver pickguard, 2x volume/2x tone controls/3-way pickup selector, floating bridge, trapeze tailpiece.
Cosmetics: This guitar has wear that is consistent with a vintage instrument. It has lots of dings, chips, and scratches throughout. There are two small holes on the top of the body where someone must have had a different tailpiece on the guitar at some point. Besides the cosmetic issues, this guitar plays very well and sounds amazing. (See Photos Please)
Playability: Our in-house guitar tech has inspected, setup, and restrung this instrument with a new set of strings. The neck is straight, the truss rod is fully functional, and the action has been setup low and comfortable. The frets are in great shape with no major grooves or divots from use and it plays beautifully up and down the fretboard with no dead spots or choking out.
Modifications: Replacement bridge, replacement tailpiece.
Weight: 5.935 lbs.
Case: This guitar ships in a gig bag, professionally packaged, and fully insured.
