| Year | 1955 | Color | Sunburst | | | | | |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois | Factory Options | N/A | | | | | |
| Manufacturer | Kay Mfd. for Sears and Roebuck | Case Mfd. | Unknown | | | | | |
| Model | 1381 | Case Exterior | Black Arched Hardshell, 4-latches w 1 locking, 3-hinges, Metal Feet | | | | | |
| Serial # | 5904 L4 | Case Interior | Plush Black Felt | | | | | |
| Serial # Location | Ink Stamp Body Cavity | Case Extras | Tune-o-Matic Bridge | | | | | |
| Original Price | $89.95 | | | | | | | |
| Specifications | | | | | | | | |
| Overall | | | | | | | | |
| Type | Electric Semi-Hollow Guitar | Body Length | 19 3/16″ | | | | | |
| Weight | 7 lb 2oz | Body Depth | 2 3/4″ | | | | | |
| Scale | 25 3/4″ | Upper Bout Width | 10 13/16″ | | | | | |
| # Of Strings | 6 | Waist Bout Width | 9 1/4″ | | | | | |
| Total Length | 38 7/8″ | Lower Bout Width | 15 | | | | | |
| Construction | | | | | | | | |
| Body | | | | | | | | |
| Body Type | “Thin-Twin”, Single Cutaway | Body Binding | 1-ply White Celluloid Top and Back | | | | | |
| Top | Curly Maple Laminate | f-hole Binding | N/A | | | | | |
| Back | Curly Maple Laminate | Bracing | Chambered Center Block | | | | | |
| Sides | Mahogany Laminate | Finish | Nitrocellulose | | | | | |
| Neck | | | | | | | | |
| Neck Detail | Maple and Ebony Bonded, 3-piece | Side Marker | N/A | | | | | |
| Neck Profile | C | Nut | Bone | | | | | |
| Neck Depth | 1st Fret 1.025″, 10th Fret 1.170″ | Nut Width | 1 3/4″ | | | | | |
| Neck Attachment | Set, White Celluloid Cap w/ Metal Neck Pin and 2-screws to Body | 12th Fret Width | 2 1/8″ | | | | | |
| Neck Heel Cap | Rosewood | Truss | Steel Rod | | | | | |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood | Truss Adjustment | N/A | | | | | |
| Fingerboard Radius | 10″ | Truss Adj. Cover | N/A | | | | | |
| Fingerboard Binding | White Celluloid Fully Bound | Peghead Profile | 2×2 Kay Single Point Paddle | | | | | |
| Frets | .090″ Nickle Silver Wire | Peghead Veneer | White Celluloid Cap | | | | | |
| Fret Count | 20 | Peghead Binding | N/A | | | | | |
| Position Marker | 6 Pearlette Large Block Inlay 3,5,7,9,12,15 | Peghead Logo | Engraved Blue Outline and Hand Engraved Gold Silvertone Script | | | | | |
| Hardware | | | | | | | | |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe Two-line | Pickguard | White Celluloid w/ Engraved Blue Outline, Gold Oulined Red and Blue Dots Black Crown and Gold 8th Note over Blue Crest | | | | | |
| Tuners Type | 6-OAP, Closed Back, 4-screw to Headstock | Pickguard Mount | 11-screws to Top | | | | | |
| Machine Heads | Plastic Oval | Knobs | Romar, White Knurled Cupcake, Set Screw | | | | | |
| Tuner Bushings | Brass Round | Knob Details | 2 Volume, 2 Tone, Volume and Tone Gold Stamped into Top | | | | | |
| Tailpiece | Aluminum Trapeze, Hinged | Switch Cap | Aluminum Push-on | | | | | |
| Tailpiece Mount | 3-screws to Bottom Side | Control Plate | Pickguard Integrated | | | | | |
| Bridge Type | Floating 1-piece, 2-screw Height Adj .Compensated | Pickup Bezel | N/A | | | | | |
| Bridge Detail | 2-screws Adjust on Body Routed Nuts | Pickup Location | P1-Neck, P2-Bridge | | | | | |
| Bridge Material | Rosewood | Pickup Mount | 2 Spring Loaded Screws Through Pickguard to Pickup, Height Adj. | | | | | |
| Bridge Saddle | N/A | Strap Button | White Plastic End Pin, Neck Heel Metal Pin | | | | | |
| Tremolo Arm | N/A | | | | | | | |
| Electronics | | | | | | | | |
| Pickup | Kay Mfd. | Switch Stamp | CRL 1452 | | | | | |
| Pickup Detail | Integrated Thin CM Cover | Switch Detail | 2-pole 3-position Lever Action | | | | | |
| Pickup Date | N/A | Capacitor Stamp | 86119 .10 MFD 100 V.D.C.178 (2 caps, both Cornell Dubilier) | | | | | |
| Pickup Poles | N/A | Cap Value | P1 – .10µF, P2 – .10µF | | | | | |
| Pickup Wiring | Body Rouned and Mounted to Pickguard Hardware | Cap Value Actual | P1 – .134µF, P2 – .161µF | | | | | |
| Pickup Output | P1-8.35kΩ, P2-6.89kΩ | Resistor | Two 20kΩ ±20% 1/2 watt | | | | | |
| Potentiometers | Stackpole Electronics, Inc. | Resistor Value Actual | P1-16kΩ, P2-17kΩ | | | | | |
| Potentiometer Stamp | W3739 304520 | Wire Harness | Unshielded | | | | | |
| Potentiometer Value | P1-100kΩ, T-100kΩ | Ground Wire | To Tailpiece | | | | | |
| Pot Value Actual | P1-V-86kΩ T-87.1kΩ, P2 V-71kΩ T-91.7kΩ (may be weighted reads) | Output Jack | Switchcraft 1/4″ LB Side Mounted | | | | | |
| Notes | | | | | | | | |
| Catalog Description | | | | | | | | |
| Slim-Style Dual Pickup Guitar | | | | | | | | |
| Thin Body . . easier to hold and play! | | | | | | | | |
| Twin High Fidelity pickup units for pure tone and wide variety of beautiful effects. | | | | | | | | |
| 3-way selector switch for upper and lower, or both pickups . . plus 2 volume and tone sontrols. | | | | | | | | |
| So easy to hold because the body is slim . . yet it’s wide enough to play like a conventional guitar. Beautiful hand-rubbed finish on body of select curly maple with mahogany sides. 401/4×15 inches wide. Home Study Book. Buy with amplifier and save (see table at right). | | | | | | | | |
| 57 K 01381L – Guitar. Shipping weight 11 pounds. $9 down. $8 month on Terms. Cash $89.95 | | | | | | | | |
| 57 K 01382L – With case. Shipping weight 19 lbs. $10 down, $8 month on Terms. Cash $99.95 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Chronologue Legend | | | | | | | | |
| Pickups numbering starts from top position. Ex. P1-Neck, P2-Middle, P3-Bridge | | | | | | | | |
| Pup – Pickup | | | | | | | | |
| UB – Upper-bout, LB – Lower-bout, WB – Waist-bout | | | | | | | | |
| Laminate – Pressed layers of wood w/ veneer | | | | | | | | |
| Celluloid – Nitrocellulose-based plastics | | | | | | | | |
| W/B – Binding alternates White/Black or Black/White depending on count. Ex. 5-ply W/B = W/B/W/B/W | | | | | | | | |
| (db) – Double Markers | | | | | | | | |
| Pearlette – Plastic resembling natural pearl. | | | | | | | | |
| MOP – Authentic mother of pearl | | | | | | | | |
| COB – Chrome over brass | | | | | | | | |
| CM – Chromed Metal | | | | | | | | |
| OAP – Tuners mounted on a metal plate | | | | | | | | |
| V/T – Volume/Tone | | | | | | | | |
| kΩ – Kiloohms, measuring electric resistance | | | | | | | | |
| μF – Microfared, measuring electrical capacitance | | | | | | | | |
| Unknown – Electronics – examination would disrupt vintage integrity, or accurate reading is weighted by other components. | | | | | | | | |
| Unknown – Wood or hardware – examination would disrupt vintage integrity | | | | | | | | |
| N/A – Not Available from manufacturer. | | | | | | | | |
| The Chronologue entry is for model inspected only. Similar models may exhibit different specifications. | | | | | | | | |
| The Chronologue is for historic reference. Updates to continue. | | | | | | | | |
| Maintenance on models not performed unless documented. | | | | | | | | |
| The Chronologue is a registered trademark of SLT Vintage | | | | | | | | |