1968 Kay Electric Solid Body K 403 guitar

by Tom Weinreich
(Nanaimo BC Canada)

This is a teal blue guitar in excellent condition (3 pickups with a Melita synchro sonic bridge and a Bigsby vibrato. Could you let me know what the current value of this guitar is?

Tom

ANSWER

Hi, Tom--

The Blue Book lists only a few Kay models and unfortunately, the K 403 is not one of them. This usually means that there is not great demand by collectors for a particular model. This from the kayguitar.com website:

"Most Kay guitars do not have any collectable value. However, if you own an electric Kay guitar with a Chevron Headstock made from the lates 1950s through the early 1960s, your instrument may have collectable value."

The kayguitar.com website also has several resources listed who may be able to provide you with more information.

This guitar is dated only one year before the Kay company went out of business. It was manufactured in Chicago. Due to saturation of the market and the down economy, by 1969 both Valco Guitars Inc., and the Kay trademark were out of business.

The Kay trademark is now on entry level/beginner guitars built in Asia.

I looked extensively for information about the value of this particular model and I could find absolutely nothing.

If you would like to contact the new Kay company, here is the contact information:

Contact Information:
PO Box 8798
Newport Beach, CA 92658
www.kayguitar.com


Sorry I could not provide a specific current value.

Lynne