Used Knaggs Keya Sunburst Electric Guitar with OHSC

We just took in a killer guitar - a previously owned Knaggs Keya, with serial # 77.  That makes it a very early build, one of the original guitars in the early days of the company.  It's been kept in great shape, and is spectacular to play.

The Keya is a double-cutaway model with a beautiful flame maple top, hand-built in Maryland, combining a Les Paul's short scale and set neck with a more modern shape and carved body. This one is finished in sunburst, which shows the wood grain nicely.  The body is mahogany with a carved top and back, and the neck is a set mahogany neck with Knaggs' own C-shaped profile that's very comfortable to play.  The scale length is 24.75", the same as a Les Paul, so bends feel easy and the strings have a bit of give. Three-on-a-side tuners are Kluson vintage-style, and the bridge is Knaggs' own Influence design, a two-in-one bridge and string holder.

The pickups are not original to the guitar - this one was modified. You get two great humbuckers, with a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge position and what appears to be a Gibosn humbucker from 1978 in the neck position.  On the latter, we weren't sure at first but did some research and figured it out based on Patent Number 2,737,842 stampled on there.  Interestingly, it does not actually belong to a humbucker pickup; it's the patent number for a combined bridge and tailpiece invented by Les Paul.  Gibson stamped this on their humbuckers to intentionally confuse competitors and hide the true patent details for Seth Lover's humbucker design.  Weird fact of guitar history there!

Anyway, these pickups sound excellent.  Rich, full of classic tone, and suitable for a variety of styles, whether clean or dirty.  The Keya is wired the simple way, with a 3-way toggle, volume and tone controls, and nickel hardware. It's a simple guitar to operate, so you can spend your time playing it.

The semi-gloss finish is thin and lets the wood breathe, and the carved top gives it the visual depth of a high-end custom.  It's in excellent condition and comes with its original hardshell case.

The guitar has been set up to play perfectly by the techs in our shop, and it is ready to go.  If you're a fan of Knaggs and want an early build, or just want a unique double-cut from one of the best boutique builders out there, this Keya is a great find.