Here is a first, the new Solo King replica issued by My Rare Guitars. It is a replica of the 1960 Kay Solo King – one of the weirdest and rarest electric guitars ever produced.
Since 1998 myrareguitars.com has been sharing its knowledge and history of the bizarre guitars from the late 50′s and early 60′s. As we approach our 15th anniversary, we’ve been looking for something unique to mark the “brand” and create some historical goodies for all those passionate about weird guitars. We’ve decided to issue one or two new models each year – focusing on the real “fringe” bizarre – in a limited release, branded with the MyRareGuitars label. These oddball collectables will feature top quality, professional materials and construction, but will keep the prices at a fun and friendly level – a thank you to all who have supported us over the years. We especially look forward to your suggestions for future models! Our initial release – the Solo King – will begin shipping Nov 15th, 2012. Only 24 of these guitars were made. First come, first served. Order yours today!
MRG Solo King
Only $479 (includes VAT in UK and Europe) incl. FREE Shipping Worldwide
Details & Specifications:
- Colours: Black
- Body: Basswood
- Neck: Bolt-on Maple
- Fingerboard: Rosewood, Dot markers
- Scale Length: 24 3/4″
- Width at Nut: 1 5/8″
- Pickups: Dual Mini Humbuckers
- Switching: 3-Way
- Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone
- Bridge: Fixed Tun-O-Matic Bridge
- Hardware: Gotoh style Nickel/Chrome
- Strings: #9-#46
- Case: optional hardshell case $99 extra.
- Unique Features: Limited Edition of only 24 guitars
Additional photos:
November 14, 2012 at 1:11 pm
That is one F*&^%$N ugly combination of wire and wood!!!!!!!!!!! I sure hope it sounds better than it looks.
November 14, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Just a thought……If you can envision what the body would have looked like contoured to the back scalloped area. With guitar flipped over and the carve essentially cut out of the area that is waist contoured. It would have probably come right down to the pickguard but I think that would have been a pretty cool looking design. You stayed true to the original and hats off for going outside the mainstream industry box. I especially like some of the Airline models and will probably buy one.
November 14, 2012 at 1:29 pm
reissue the Futurama (George Harrison and Jimmy Page’s first guitar)
do it ..
I will go ahead an pre order the first one ..
November 14, 2012 at 1:45 pm
I own two Kay Vanguards.
My first is an original single pickup one branded as a “True Tone” – I heard somewhere it was marketed through a line of tire stores that way. Replacement bridge, and I put new tuners on it, but its an amazing guitar. Was my main gigging guitar for a number of years.
I also have the Vanguard 2 that I bought a few years later with all the original hardware, but somehow doesn’t sound quite like my first one. Looks awesome plays pretty good, but something isn’t quite there.
If you re-make either of those with this kind of a treatment (particularly in the bridge department) I’d probably HAVE to pick one up.
November 14, 2012 at 2:05 pm
??? No video or audio demo?
Sorry guys. I don’t know anyone who buys a guitar based on the pics alone these days. It’s 2012 not 1960…
Demo up!
November 14, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Nowhere near as ugly as the Gibson Reverse Flying V…
November 14, 2012 at 3:41 pm
I love this thing! Is it full or short scale? It just needs a bigsby. Trying to scrounge up pennies before they are gone.
November 14, 2012 at 7:18 pm
I like it- good job! Great look / colors available? Hows the intonation? Does it stay in tune? I want one. What type of wood is the body and neck?
November 14, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Very interested in this new series — looks like a lot of fun!
My requests/suggestions:
LaBaye 2X4 (four, six or twelve, your call) and/or Vox Winchester
Gibson Corvus II or III
Something Alamo-like, maybe a Fiesta or Jet?
November 14, 2012 at 8:46 pm
How could it NOT sound better than it looks!? =)
November 14, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Stayin’ true…
November 14, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Might do a video, but will probably be sold out before we do.
November 14, 2012 at 8:48 pm
full Gibson scale.
November 14, 2012 at 9:50 pm
I used to have a Vox teardrop ten string…I would love to see a repro of that guitar.
November 14, 2012 at 10:01 pm
I own two Eastwoods (Club Bass, Sidejack) and i gotta say this one looks like the coolest yet!! Cheers
November 15, 2012 at 5:14 pm
Oh, that is not even close to being the ugliest guitar ever. It actually looks pretty cool, in a lop-sided sort of way.
November 15, 2012 at 8:53 pm
I think this thing looks way cool, and in keeping with the reason so many of us are Eastwood fans to begin with … twisted, bizarr-o, groovy guitars that take us back to the halcyon years when imaginations ran wild, and sans the restrictions of todays builders. Just as the music was, by and large, more inventive then (and by a long shot), so too were the instruments. I might have to grab one of these.
November 15, 2012 at 11:31 pm
Ugh, I distinctly remember Guitar Player magazine profiling one of these about a decade ago in their old “Encore” section at the back, and either Art Thomson (or Tom Wheeler?) did not have many good things to say about its “high school shop class body” and “under-powered pickups”.
I’m liking the fact that you guys put a body-carve on the back, and probably used great pickups for this incarnation. But seriously, the Kay Solo King has got to be one of the UGLIEST electric guitars ever. A Zenon, Zim-gar, Teisco or Guyatone reissue would be much weirder AND sweeter for your 20th anniversary!!
November 16, 2012 at 8:53 am
Yep, those are all on the list! I think the Zenon with the “wave” pickgaurd is next…
November 16, 2012 at 1:26 pm
here is my suggestion:
http://www.univox.org/pics/guitars/unknown_6string.jpg
crazy enough and i would buy it in a heartbeat.
haven’t found the real deal yet…
anyway, a great idea Mike
November 16, 2012 at 7:02 pm
This is a really cool guitar, bought it as soon as I read my email a couple days ago. Can’t wait to get it , and I’m sure it will be super amazing like all Mikes wares are! If I could request any guitar, maybe a plexi bodied one played by Jake from Jeff The Brotherhood?, it’s a three string guitar, totally cool and I would buy one for sure! Take care and thanks Mike for this early X-Mas gift to myself!
November 17, 2012 at 4:05 pm
It’s not for me, but I’m definitely digg’n it! Cool addition to an already amazingly unique line of guitars.
November 18, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Question about the optional hard shell case, is it designed specifically for this guitar or is a standard case you already have available for purchase? Thanks, my guitar arrived in perfect condition, except the delivery person left it in my lane way and I didn’t find it till the next day, crazy!!!, glad it didn’t get pinched….
November 18, 2012 at 7:37 pm
do not have a specific case, just a generic rectangle case.
November 19, 2012 at 10:39 am
Are the Solo Kings gone??
November 19, 2012 at 10:58 am
we have only TWO left.
November 20, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Hey Mike. How are you and the fam. doing? This guitar looks like a versatile axe. You could gig with it and paddle your canoe!
Seriously – very cool. Hope you guys are doing great.
Ciao.
Jeff
December 11, 2012 at 9:53 pm
are any left
December 11, 2012 at 10:10 pm
two left.
December 28, 2012 at 7:54 pm
Why is this growing on me? It reminds me of my Rickenbacker 450, but just kind of smushed out of shape. I love the fact that there’s history behind all of the Eastwood (and MRG) guitars.