Kay K-32

Kay is an American brand, famous in the years 50/60. The current owners of the mark does not want to capitalize on the past, difficult to get information. Apparently guitar made in the late 60 in Japan.
It is a form Stratocaster Pickups 3 single (very péchus, I will return), setting three pots (volume, 2 tones), 3-position selector. Large head type CBS, 21 frets type zero, no tremolo strings are through.
Mahogany body, neck "I do not know" and maple fingerboard.

The tuners are vintage. Simpler, it does not exist. Not even cons nut. Suddenly, they become hard when the strings are strained. It is a weak point.

UTILIZATION

So it is a form strat ergonomics is good. The handle gives the impression of having a baseball bat in his hands but is very easy to play hoops "zero", so very low action, no need to force to make it sound right. Handle close enough for my small hands. But it is not an Ibanez ...

The weight is surprising: it is a guitar heavy (4kg). The wood chosen is one reason (mahogany), but body size is more important than a strat. It did not seem to have a wooden crate guitar ) It's heavy. I play mostly sitting, so it does not bother me.

The guitar sounds great vacuum. It is easy to get a good sound, very 60s/70s.

SOUNDS

I play a bit of everything, so there's bound to register it or me. In fact, there are several. The first surprise is that with a form Stratocaster, this guitar does not sound "strata". The fault (if desired) to wood (mahogany), traversing the strings and pickups. It is closer to a Les Paul. The pickups are very péchus. The electronics are brand Dimarzio, and it seems that the microphones are also Dimarzio. The clean sounds are good but not crystalline. The registry is The Animals, Beach Boys, The Who Who's next front, 60's what. It's crunch quickly. In bridge, just playing on the volume (very effective), it has a nice range of styles available. Too bad the 3 pickups are not more different. With a 3 position selector, the guitar lacks versatility. It is very suitable for rock, hard rock (early 1970), the blues. For metal, it does not, for ballads or country music either. It was easily a big sound, even without a tube amp.

OVERALL OPINION

It's been a month since I have. I bought from a dealer and had to retype it all over. I did not pay very dear, not knowing what to expect. It is rather a good surprise. It does not sound like my other guitars. Suddenly, the price / quality ratio is excellent. It is noteworthy that after 40 years, the knobs do not spit: all mail is original. They are much more effective than guitars very recent. Kay again this has happened. The maple neck is worn but it does not feel playing. It has taken sudden entry of the strings in the body is well marked. It's true "Vintage". Not a guitar aged artificially.

What I like most is the raw sound, ease of play, the 60/70 side. What I like least is the lack of versatility and mechanical (but that will change).