KAY ARCHTOP RESTORED FROM OLD CUSTOM JOB
-- PICKUP ADDED
The goal of this project was to restore
this guitar to as close to original as
possible and add a jazz-style pickup.
This 60's - vintage archtop Kay guitar
had been mod- ified to allow for 8
strings - some raised drone strings.  
The headstock had been fitted with two
extra machines and the nut and bridge
both had raised portions.  The neck had
become unplayable over time as well.
Step one, shown at right, was to mill and
crown and polish the frets, remove and
clean years of rust and corrosion off all
parts, lube & adjust the truss rod and
other mechanical parts, carve a vintage
bone nut, order and install a new,
adjustable bridge, clean, oil, and polish
the guitar and test it with new strings.


    Phase II included removing the extra tuning
    machines, filling the holes, sanding flush,
    then repainting the headstock a custom
    color to blend with the original color,  After
    bringing the headstock, neck and the rest of
    the guitar to a high sheen, a Kent Armstrong
    jazz pickup was mounted on the neck and
    wired to a hidden volume pot which was
    mounted under the original Kay pickguard
    which was reintroduced to the guitar.  In the
    process of wiring, an internal pickup was
    discovered, so the original jack was
    replaced with a stereo jack to allow for
    either or both pickups to be used.  Felt
    bushings were installed to save the finish in
    critical places.  Finally the restored Kay
    archtop was strung, tuned, set up and
    tested.