1950 Kay K-95 Hollow Body Electric Mandolin, As-Is
1950 Kay K-95 Hollow Body Electric Mandolin, As-Is. Here’s a swell project for someone that wants a vintage electric mandolin at a low price. This K-95 mando has one lipstick tube style pickup near the neck and volume & tone controls mounted on the bass side rib. And the electronics work just fine. Though it is playable in its current condition, it frets out around the 12th fret. Necessary repairs that are obvious to me; neck reset & new tuner knobs for the 4-on a plate Kluson tuners. Other repairs you might decide to do while you are puttering include a refret, installing an intonated bridge top, and a new nut. This mando has a maple neck with a Brazilian rosewood 14” scale fretboard. The neck retains the original sunburst finish and there is a ghost of the glue that held the Kay peghead medallion. The body was amateurishly refinished natural blond, but the curly maple back and side veneers look good. $200 gets you this instrument and it’s original brown alligator look carboard case.