Vintage Kay Barney Kessel Jazz Special - USA 1959

Here is a 1959 Kay Barney Kessel Jazz Special, a striking example of mid-century American archtop design built by the Kay Musical Instrument Company in Chicago. Designed in collaboration with legendary jazz guitarist Barney Kessel, this model reflects the era’s ambition to deliver professional-grade instruments with strong visual character and a warm, expressive voice suited to jazz and blues players.

This example features a fully hollow body construction with a spruce top and maple back and sides, producing a rich, woody tonal character with strong acoustic resonance and natural warmth. The ornate single-cutaway design not only provides excellent upper-fret access but also gives the instrument its distinctive vintage aesthetic.

It is fitted with the original pickups, delivering the classic Kay “Kleenex Box” single-coil tone, with sweet, articulate response in the neck position and a slightly more driven, punchy character in the bridge for blues and rhythm work. The overall voice is warm, open, and highly responsive to dynamics.

The neck has a substantial late-’50s profile that feels comfortable and supportive in the hand, well suited to jazz comping, chord melody work, and expressive lead playing. The guitar remains fully functional with solid electronics and stable hardware performance, making it a reliable player as well as a vintage piece.

Condition is player grade, showing expected signs of age and use. The pickguard, pickup rings, and control knobs appear to be replacements, and there is some binding separation at the waist consistent with instruments of this period. Despite this, it remains structurally sound and highly playable with strong vintage character throughout.

Specifications:

Year: 1959
Country: USA
Model: Vintage Kay Barney Kessel
Finish: Sunburst (original)
Body: Fully hollow archtop, spruce top with maple back & sides (single cutaway)
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Brazilian rosewood
Scale: 25.75"
Pickups: Original Kay "Kleenex Box" single-coils
Bridge: Floating rosewood bridge
Tuners: Grover
Case: OHSC