Kay Speed Demon - USA 1966

Kay built guitars in Chicago for decades, and the Speed Demon is one of the best-loved shapes from the 1960s. It’s a slim, stylish thinline with a single f-hole, a sharp single cutaway and a cream pickguard that sets off the sunburst finish. Its looks are a big part of the appeal, but the sound is why these have such a following.

Three pickups and a bank of controls give it a lot of tonal range. It’s raw, twangy, a little gritty and full of character, in a way that suits blues, garage, surf and rockabilly. It’s also very playable. The body is light, the neck is slim and quick, and the semi-hollow construction gives it a lively, woody resonance that you can hear even before you plug in.

The sunburst glows nicely from front to back, running from amber in the centre to dark edges, with black binding to finish it. The distinctive headstock has a triangular plate and cream tuner buttons, and a trapeze-style tailpiece keeps the strings anchored. It comes in what appears to be its original hard case, with a red plush interior that suits the guitar perfectly.

Guitars like this sit in a space where vintage style and everyday playability meet, without carrying the price tag of the better-known American brands from the same period.

Specifications:

Weight: 3.22kg / 7.11lb

Action at 1st Fret: 0.5mm

Action at 12th Fret: 2.0mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 22.89mm

Nut Width: 42.49mm

Width at 12th Fret: 53.56mm

Maker: Kay

Model: Speed Demon

Year: 1966

Made In: USA (Chicago)

Serial Number: N/A

Colour: Sunburst

Body: Semi-hollow thinline with single f-hole

Pickups: Three

Tuners: Cream button

Tailpiece: Trapeze

Case: Original hardshell