1950s Kay K27 X-Braced Jumbo Guitar

These big, x-braced versions of the Kay jumbo guitars are on the rarer side. The ladder-braced, less-fancy versions are the ones seen most widely "in the wild." I picked this one up from my buddy Kevin up in Montpelier in a needs-work state and was super-happy with how it turned-out. I'd worked on the same model earlier this year with my guy Ancel and that one was a huge-sounding, in-your-face, countrified cannon of a guitar. This one's just the same -- it's simply fun.

Of course, being a full 17" jumbo, this has J-200 vibes in terms of general handling. The neck is bigger, though, and it has a much more direct and punchy sound than your average J-200 which tends to be less aggressive and more nuanced. This is a perfect country or rockabilly chord-chucker that will also do a nice bit of flatpicked lead if need be. It's also loud.

Repairs included: a neck reset (plus extra bolt reinforcement hidden at the neck block's interior -- the Kay joints are not the tidiest), fret level/dress, new custom bridge (in the shape of the old one, more or less), cleaning, and setup.

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: ply maple

Bracing type: x

Bridge: rosewood (replacement)

Fretboard: ebony

Neck wood: maple

Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 54w-12 lights

Neck shape: medium-fuller C

Board radius: 10"

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: jumbo-wide-medium-height

Scale length: 25 3/4"

Nut width: 1 3/4"

Body width: 17 3/8"

Body depth: 4 3/4"

Weight: 5 lbs 12 oz

Condition notes: it's original except for a missing pickguard (it had an ugly replacement on it when it got here), replacement bridge (my own), replacement tuners (Kluson-style repros in the style of the originals), and replacement bridge pins. The finish has tons of weather-check throughout, missing color and flecks on the back and sides all over, and lots of scratches. Still, it's a handsome look and the excessive amount of pickwear around the soundhole looks killer, too. The fretboard has minor chipping/hairline cracks here and there that are filled and/or stable. There's missing pearl inlay in the headstock. The truss rod works.

It comes with: no case, sorry!