D'Angelico Logo Mother of Pearl D'Angelico New York Logo Series Inlay (Front) Mother of Pearl Excel Shield Logo Serial Number (Back) Model Name, Serial Number (W21XXXX) Binding 3-ply, Cream Headpin Cupola Tuners Grover Imperial Strings D'Angelico Electrozinc 10's (10-46) Truss Rod Cover Aluminum Skyscraper, Gold Nut Width 1 11/16” Nut. Check the year and purchase price of your musical instrument from its serial number. D'Angelico Logo Mother of Pearl D'Angelico New York Logo Series Inlay (Front) Mother of Pearl Excel Shield Logo Serial Number (Back) Model Name, Serial Number (W21XXXX) Binding 3-ply, Cream Headpin Cupola Tuners Grover Imperial Strings D'Angelico Electrozinc 10's (10-46) Truss Rod Cover Aluminum Skyscraper, Gold Nut Width 1 11/16” Nut. On luthiers John D’Angelico and James L. D’AQUISTO SERIAL NUMBERS Master Luthier James L. D’Aquisto (1935-1995) met John D’Angelico around 1953. At the early age of 17 D’Aquisto became D’Angelico’s apprentice, and by 1959 was handling the decorative procedures and other lutherie jobs.

Vintage Guitars Info's
Other Vintage Guitar Makers:
Kay, D'Angelico, Stromberg, Hofner.

D'angelico, Stromberg, Kay, Hofner vintage guitars history and collecting.Private vintage guitar collector. Pictures, history for other makes of vintage guitars.
Contact the Vintage Guitar Info Guy.1958 Kay Barney Kessel Pro

Model Information for:

Picture Gallery, Other makers
There are lots of other cool makes of instruments out there. But theseare the 'big' ones that I have some information on. Note the Hofnersection has been greatly updated and moved to its own section, and removed from here.

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Kay.

Kay primarily manufactured 'department store' style, inexpensive guitars from the 1930's to the 1960's. But they also made some hi-end, qualityarchtop guitars. The most collectable Kays are any model with the 'Kelvinator'plastic headstock overlay with art deco patterns. Used from 1957 to 1960, this headstock was named after the brand of refrigerator that looked quite similar.This overlay was injection molded with clear acrylic plastic and thenback-painted either white or black, with gold highlights in the crestand gold dots outside of the crest. Starting in late 1960, Kay switched to a less expensive 'half' Kelvinator that used just the triangle Kay crest from the full Kelvinator, screwed to a simple black plastic headstockveneer. This 'half' Kelvinator dropped the black or white back-painted acyrlic 'lunchcountertop' surround with gold dots. This design only lasted till the end of 1961 when the Kelvinator headstock was completely dropped.

1957-1960 Kay full
'Kelvinator' Headstock

Kays are notorious for having bad neck sets and broken truss rod systems.Usually, this can be corrected by a good repair person for around$150 to $200.

Barney Kessel Artist.

Barney Kessel Jazz Special.

The Upbeat.

15' wide, single cutaway, flat top semi-hollow maple body, blond top andsunburst back and sides, 1 or 2 blade pickups, block fingerboard inlaysstarting at the 3rd fret, rosewood fingerboard, trapeze tailpiece,rosewood bridge fixed to top. Available 1952 to 1960. Tortoise shell pickguard from 1952 to 1957, black pickguard from 1958 to 1960.

D'angelico Serial Number Lookup

pre-1958 K-161

Jazz II.

K-11 acoustic archtop.

1961 Kay Jazz II with semi-Kelvinator

K-27 Flattop.

K-23 Flattop.

Kay Professional Cutaway Flattop.

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Harmony Guitars.

I do *not* collect Harmony guitars, and franklydon't know

Dangelico Serial Number Lookup