1960s Kay Tenor Resonator Banjo

Overview: This is a simple, no-frills, fast-playing, loud, resonator tenor banjo. Kay built this style from the early '50s and onwards and this one is likely from the early '60s. It has a full resonator design and uses the brand's usual integrated, one-piece flange/bracket band. The neck is quick and narrow like a Gibson tenor (post-'30s) and it has a guitar-style headstock shape with guitar-style tuners, which makes keeping it in tune a lot easier than usual banjo pegs, geared or otherwise.

Repairs included: Molly gave it a level/dress of the frets and I cleaned it up a bit, fit a new bridge, added an additional "keeper bolt" for the neck adjustment system, and set it up. It's playing bang-on and ready to go. It's currently strung and setup for CGDA standard tuning but I could restring it and set it up for whatever you want.

• Weight: 7 lbs 5 oz
• Scale length: 23"
• Nut width: 1 3/16"
• Neck shape: medium-soft V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 13/16"
• Depth at seventh fret: 7/8"
• Head diameter: 11”
• Resonator diameter: 13 1/2”
• Depth overall at rim: 3"
• Rim wood: ply maple
• Tonering: hoop
• Bridge: ebony/maple
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 32s, 20w, 13, 9 for CGDA tuning
• Truss rod: non-adjustable steel
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-wider

Condition notes: While there's tarnish on the hardware and light scuffing and scratching here and there throughout, it looks good. It's all-original, too, save the bridge and perhaps the head, though the head is certainly old-enough to look correct to me...

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: NILS