Kay Musical Instruments

Kay Musical Instruments was initially founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1890, having emerged as a subsidiary of the Groeschel Mandolin Company. After a brief stint as Stromberg-Vilsinet between 1921 and 1923, the company became rebranded as Kay Musical Instruments after it was purchased by Henry Kay Kuhrmeyer in 1928. As Kay Musical Instruments, the company focused largely on the production of electric guitars and amplifiers, though they were also active as manufacturers of related stringed instruments including folk instruments, violins, cellos, banjos, upright bass guitars, and lap steel guitars. Entry-level instruments were released under the Knox and Kent monikers. A series of ownership shifts occurred between 1955 and 1968, with Kay finally being liquidated in 1969. The Kay trademarked was purchased several times before being reinstated as the Kay Guitar Company prior to the end of the twentieth century. Among their most well known models include the K-161 “Thin Twin” electric guitar and the K-162 “Electronic” Bass, which was the second commercial electric bass guitar after the Fender Precision Bass of 1951. Both instruments were released in 1952. The K-160 bass was added in 1954 featuring a baritone tuning that was the same pitches as the first four of the guitar, scaled one octave lower. The Gold “K” line of electric guitars emerged in 1957 and was meant to compete directly with the major manufacturers of the time including Fender and Gibson. Popular musicians to have employed a Kay guitar include Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan.