Need help IDing this old Kay

[VintageGuitars_89]

What can you tell me about this old axe? Plays like a million


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[cheepaxes]

I believe that's a version of the Vanguard. That's not the first time I've seen that particular pickup in one, but they're somewhat rare from what I've seen. I have something similar, same body, bushwacker headstock, under-pickguard pickup. Mine plays well enough after some set up work.

Scott

[audiodrome]

How about this one? I posted this picture a while back but I still don't have a positive ID. It was "identified" as a Titan, a Vanguard, and a Value Leader, but when I looked those models up online none of them looked like my Kay. However, I did find this one picture (below), which looks pretty darn close, but there wasn't a model name listed, only "3-Pickup Solidbody."

[Michael Ambrose]

Audiodrome... yours is a Kay K-333 Vanguard. The Vanguard bodies went through VAST changes from their inaugural year through the termination of the line. They were initially small and blocky but eventually become more stylized.

The Value Leader was basically their answer to a Les Paul, a rounded single-cut electric spanish.

I believe I'm the one that told you it was a Titan. (Just searched for the old thread.) The picture in that thread is really blurred and its hard to make out the hardware. The Titan line came slightly after this piece, and featured Kessel-style pickups and deeper bevels and contours, though the body was incredibly similar.

[audiodrome]

Great - thank you Michael! Unfortunately, I don't think I have any good clear pictures of the guitar. I'll try to find a better one somewhere.