Oahu Model 67K Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, made by Kay, c. 1935, made in Chicago, sunburst lacquer finish, mahogany body, poplar neck, ebonized fingerboard, tweed hard shell case.
This Oahu Model 67K is the rarer round-neck "Spanish"-style version of their model 66K Hawaiian guitar, the top of the company's mid-line models that sat just below the celebrated "Jumbo" in their line. Like most Oahu instruments this guitars was built specifically for them by Kay in Chicago. It has NOT undergone conversion from an original Hawaiian setup; it is a dedicated, purpose built 14-fret Spanish guitar. Cleveland-based Oahu (as the name would imply) specialized in teaching Hawaiian guitar and the great bulk of the large-body instruments made for them were Hawaiian guitars; this Spanish style was ordered in far smaller numbers.
First listed in Oahu catalogs in 1935 for the princely sum of $65, this version of the 67K lasted up until 1940 when the design was simplified somewhat. That was a LOT of money for this guitar in 1835; you could buy a brand-new Martin D-18 for the exact same price! The trick was Oahu sold on time payments to students in their franchised teaching studios, so the cost could be spread out over a year or more. During the depression, that counted for a lot.
The 67K has an all-mahogany body including the top, with the outer edges and soundhole rim bound in flashy checkerboard pattern celluloid. At 15 1/8" wide this is a fairly large guitar for the time if not quite Jumbo sized. The bracing is a Stella-like straight-ladder pattern with a wide flat bridge plate; the pyramid bridge is reminiscent of Oscar Schmidt designs as well.
The original Spanish neck is 14 frets to the body, made of poplar and rather slim for the period with a rounded "V" contour and an unbound, dot inlaid ebonized fingerboard. The elaborate carved headstock shape is a trademark of the higher end Kay/Oahu guitars; this was the least costly instrument it appeared on. This instrument was the better level of what Kay in Chicago usually built, and while perhaps less sophisticated than many competitors it remains a nice example of an authentic and distinctive Depression era guitar.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 15/16 in. (10 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 3/4 in. (654 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
For a 90-year-old guitar this Oahu is in fine condition, showing some careful maintenance repair work but really not a lot of play wear. The all-original finish has some checking (fairly heavy on the back) with small dings, dents and scratches scattered around. The back of the neck is very clean.
The neck has been very neatly reset and the original thin wire frets show only light wear. The headstock has been fitted with modern strip tuners with no additional widening of the shaft holes. There is one long grain split along the back, sealed and cleated with some minimal touchup. No other crack repairs are evident. The rosewood bridge is original, re-shaped a bit on top with a new slanted bone saddle; the original large maple bridgeplate has a small patch added over the pinholes. For an older Kay-made guitar this is a very good player with a powerful if unsophisticated sound. It lives in a nice recent tweed HSC. Excellent - Condition.
