AboutFrank A Dornay Jr Expertise I can answer questions about basic theory (i.e. key signatures, harmonies, intervals) and better ways to improve playing. I cannot answer more advanced theory questions or guitar value related questions.
Experience I have been playing guitar for over 10 years, and am currently studying to become a teacher.
Question Hi,
My name is Brandon Stroud.
My Grandfather recently passed away, and he left me his old guitar..
He has had it for as long as I can remember, and the same for my mother..
I don't really know a whole lot about it other than the fact that it says KRAFTSMAN on the head, and it has 6 steel strings, and is an acoustic style guitar.
It doesn't have a laquer finish on the front or the back, It has no shine at all. The word KRAFTSMAN it outlined with gold designs, and there are 9 round dots in between the frets which I think are ivory. I haven't been able to find a model no. or a serial no. anywhere on or in the guitar. And any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thank You for your time.
Sincerely,
-Brandon Stroud
Answer Hi Brandon.
From what I researched (via Google), Kraftsman has been sold through Spiegel catalogs years ago. Here is an excerpt from one of my fellow experts on these guitars:
"Old Kraftsman was a brand name of guitars marketed through the Spiegel catalog. Practically all of these guitars were made by the Kay Musical Instrument Co. of Chicago, who mass-produced many thousands of guitars under their own name, and also under different brand names such as Airline (for Montgomery Ward) and Silvertone (for Sears). Kay was America's second-largest maker of such instruments, behind their Chicago neighbor, Harmony, who also made lower-priced instruments under different names as well as their own, for Sears, Ward's, and many others.
Many Kay instruments bear striking similarities to Harmony models, and I believe that Kay may have sometimes bought unfinished bodies and necks from Harmony to meet production demands.
The original Kay company succumbed to foreign competition in 1968, and Harmony followed suit in 1975. Both names were acquired by importers of inexpensive instruments from Asia, and are still in use today.
While the lowest-priced Kay products were simply cheap guitars, some of their better-grade models were decent instruments, even if not up to the quality of the more expensive Gibsons, etc. of their day. "
Bill Ruxton wrote this, and I think it sums it up very clearly. They apparently have a worth of around $250-$500, though I'm not sure the interest in playing a guitar like this would be worth it to anyone except maybe the original owner.
Well there you have it! I hope this has helped you some. If you have any further questions, please feel free to follow up to me or any of the other experts. Thanks!
