Electric Guitar

1950s Kay Upbeat Archtop Guitar Blonde

1950s Kay Upbeat Archtop Guitar Blonde

$2,195.00
$2,195.00

A 1950s Kay "Upbeat" archtop guitar is a hollow-body electric guitar produced by the Kay Musical Instrument Company in the late 1950s, often found with a blonde finish. These models are known for their distinctive "Kelvinator" or "Kleenex box" pickups and unique Art Deco-style headstocks, offering a mellow, jazzy tone. While some were entry-level, higher-end "Upbeat" models were considered among Kay's best guitars of that era. 

  • Style: The "Upbeat" is an electric hollow-body guitar from the late 1950s.
  • Headstock: It features the iconic "Kelvinator" or "Kleenex box" headstock, which has a distinctive Art Deco design.
  • Finish: The "Blonde" finish is a light, natural color that was often a nitrocellulose lacquer, showcasing the maple body.
  • Construction: While a more affordable model, some late 1950s "Upbeat" models were made with reinforced necks, unlike earlier models that sometimes lacked a truss rod, making them more stable over time.

Sound: These guitars are known for a mellow, jazzy tone, especially when plugged in.

Note: Older Kay archtops can be inconsistent in quality, but the late 50s models are often sought after for their unique style, especially by those looking for a guitar with a raw sound for blues or early rock and roll.

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FAQ

How long has Norm’s been in business?
We have had the store for 32 years, since February 75′. Norm has been buying and selling guitars since the late 60’s.
What differentiates Norm’s from other music stores?
SELECTION! Norm has a huge selection of vintage collectible investment grade guitars as well as new and used pro-quality guitars. We also have an excellent selection of beginner/student packages. Norm has stashed guitars for the last 35 years and has an unbelievable array of SUPER CLEAN investment-grade guitars. There are many guitars that Norm has that do not appear on the inventory list or website. These guitars are in storage and are shown by appointment only. If you don’t see something on the website or stock list, it doesn’t mean we don’t have it.
What is Norm’s return policy?
If you are dissatisfied with your in-store purchase, you can do an exchange, but there's no full refund. For online sale, you have 48 hours upon receiving the guitar to get a full refund (minus shipping) as soon as the merchandise is returned to us in the same condition as when shipped. Customer is responsible for all shipping, insurance and bank charges that may occur.
What is Norm’s shipping policy?
We usually ship by UPS. With the high quality of instruments that we offer it is recommended that we use this safe and reliable method of shipping. On special request, we will try to accommodate all special shipping requests. All shipments are fully insured. Customer pays all shipping, insurance and any bank charges, including any returned merchandise. All insurance claims are the responsibility of the customer. (48 hour approval period on all shipped guitars. If you are not satisfied within 48 hours of delivery date, you can return for a full refund of purchase price. Buyer pays return shipping and original shipping will not be refunded.)
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