trutone oddity---ruined

[teeble]

I got to look at the guitar up close and examine it-- someone cut the round hole in it-- they suckered a pawn shop into a loan and now the pawn shop wants $250.00 for it-- they even cut the pick guard around the hole and the adjustable bridge is way too big and makes the strings stand uo a quarter of an inch above the frets-and it is a western auto brand truetone-- sorry guys, guess i should have taken a close look when i first saw it

[VintAxe]

I suspected foul play teeble, that's why I wanted to see a picture. Amazing that someone would take it in pawn since it would be difficult to disguise the fact the hole was not factory work. This one sounds like it might just be a parts guitar at this point. If you have a relationship with the shop you might advise them that they are more likely to get their $250 by parting the instrument out; it's unlikely they will get $250 for the intact instrument.

[Michael Ambrose]

Could it be a "Recording King" era Kay, where there was once a pickup with mounting plate covering the hole?

Or is it just a total hackjob?