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Kay Thin Twin K-161

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Page last updated Aug 10, 2025

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Description

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Kay K-161 Thin Twin electric guitars made from 1952 to 1959. This one looks like early 1950s (but hard to tell exact date). Commonly referred to as the “Jimmy Reed” guitar because he was pictured on an album cover with one. The Kay Musical Instrument Company mass produced instruments in the USA and the K-161 Thin Twin was introduced not long after Gibson’s Les Paul. The Thin Twin is a semi-hollow body guitar and is NOT a thin-line. It is larger than its name “thin” implies as it is really a reference to the unique appearance of the dual pickups, having a very slim “blade” profile. The guitar’s body was 2 3?4 inches (70 mm) deep. Underneath the pickguard these thin blade pickups are actually large single coil pickups.

Videos

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Kid Andersen

Kay Thin Twin Jimmy Reed Guitar Demo

Kid Andersen

1952 KAY K-161 THIN TWIN GUITAR great video !

america4hemp

Kay Deluxe Blues (Kay thin twin K-161 reissue)

Doc Loco

1955 Kay K161 Thin Twin Jimmy Reed and 1964 Fender Vibroverb

Emerald City Guitars

Kay "Jimmy Reed Model" K161 Thin Twin Reissue, Part1

GregsGuitars

50's Old Kraftsman (Kay) K-161 Thin Twin Jimmy Reed Guitar Dirty Demo

Ian Ross Cohen

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Kay Thin Twin K-161.

Features and functionality

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Early models had a capacitor that cuts highs from the neck pickup to simulate bass, limiting its usability.
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Factory wiring often had pickups out of phase, creating a deep, chewy sound ideal for T-Bone Walker styles.
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Mods and upgrades

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Removing the capacitor opens up the neck pickup's full tonal range.
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User experience

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Owners report significant variability in the sound of different Thin Twin guitars.
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Artist usage

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Chuck Berry

Singer, Guitarist

Chuck Berry & His Combo

Verified via Photo

He's an image of Chuck playing the Kay Thin Twin K-161 early in his career

Howlin' Wolf

Singer, Guitarist

Verified via Photo

The photo from Silvertoneworld shows Howlin' Wolf with his Kay Thin Twin K-161 guitar, illustrating his connection to this iconic semi-hollowbody electric instrument.

Hubert Sumlin

Guitarist

Savoy Brown

Verified via Photo

He has Kay Thin Twin K-161 in this photo. More info : https://www.silvertoneworld.net/silvertone_artists/HowlinWolf/artist_HowlinWolf.html

Doug Gillard

Guitarist

Guided by Voices

Verified via REVIEW STALKER

"I also own a 94 Strat, a 68 Harmony Rocket which i write on a lot, a nylon/classical which i used to write on a lot, and Alvarez 6-string acoustic, an Alvarez 12-str acoustic, a Kay Old Kraftsman Thin-Twin (Jimmy Reed, Hubert Sumlin, & my dad) and an old Fernandes “elephant” battery-powered built-in speaker guitar."