c.1940 Kay "Lyra" 17" Round Hole Archtop Guitar

In this case, bigger really is better. This is a fairly rare, 17" archtop most definitely built by Kay in either the late 1930s or early 1940s. It's crack-free and the finish is really good save a little playwear on the fretboard and the tiny little pock here or there. It's a beaut.

I did a neck set on this and cleaned it all up and set it up. I also replaced the busted and rusted original Klusons with some newer repro Kluson-style tuners. Otherwise it's totally original.

There's a nice sunburst all over. The top is good quality spruce and all the bracing is spot on and well done. Nicely shaped and weighted.

I see Kays with a similar shape and size quite often but not with a round soundhole. This one is also just a hair over 17" at 17 1/8" across the belly. Bracing is ladder-style

Like a big old Gibson, it sits quite comfortably in your lap due to the narrowish waist.

Stenciled Lyra brand name, more than likely unoriginal bone nut.

Fretboard is a painted & dyed black maple board. There's wear to it in the first position but all the frets have loads of life left. Plastic/celluloid? dots.

Cool gypsy-jazzish wide oval soundhole. The pickguard is elevated originally though I've put some extra padding to get it off of the top (it had warped a little over time).

Rosewood bridge.

Typical period tailpiece.

Maple back and sides, more than likely laminated at 2 or 3 ply. Bound in white celluloid on the top, back, and soundhole.

New Kluson repros.

Tailpiece & end pin.