Kay, K-161 ThinTwin Electric Guitar, 1956 - Arlen Roth

Tabs

Specifications
Builder: 
Kay
Model: 
K-161 ThinTwin Electric Guitar
Year: 
1956
Color: 
Blonde
The Story Behind

The Kay K-161 ThinTwin electric guitar made from 1952 to 1959, was one of the longest produced guitars by Kay Musical Instrument Company. The K161 Thin-Twin was commonly referred to as the "Jimmy Reed" guitar. Introduced not long after Gibson's Les Paul, the ThinTwin was a semi-hollow body guitar and larger than its name "thin" implied. The guitar's body was 2 3⁄4 inches (70 mm) deep. "ThinTwin" was a reference to the unique appearance of the dual pickups, having a very slim profile.

One of the best known Kay electric guitars during the 1950s was the K-161 Thin Twin, most visibly used by blues artist Jimmy Reed. Debuting in 1952, with a single cutaway body, a distinctive tortoiseshell pick-guard, and “twin thin” blade-style pickups that gave the guitar its name.  This guitar comes from the guitar collection of Arlen Roth.

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