| Year | 1956 | Color | Harewood Gray Transparent | | | | | |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois | Factory Options | N/A | | | | | |
| Manufacturer | Kay Musical Instrument Company | Case Mfd. | N/A | | | | | |
| Model | K172-H | Case Exterior | N/A | | | | | |
| Serial # | S L4 | Case Interior | N/A | | | | | |
| Serial # Location | Ink Stamp Body Cavity | Case Extras | N/A | | | | | |
| Original Price | $200.00 | | | | | | | |
| Specifications | | | | | | | | |
| Overall | | | | | | | | |
| Type | Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar | Body Length | 18 3/16″ | | | | | |
| Weight | 6.2 lb. | Body Depth | 2 3/4″ | | | | | |
| Scale | 25.5″ | Upper Bout Width | 10 1/8″ | | | | | |
| # Of Strings | 6 | Waist Bout Width | 8 3/16″ | | | | | |
| Total Length | 38 3/4″ | Lower Bout Width | 12 1/2″ | | | | | |
| Construction | | | | | | | | |
| Body | | | | | | | | |
| Body Type | Fully Arched, Single Cutaway, Right Handed | Body Binding | Celluloid 4-Ply W/B Top and Back | | | | | |
| Top | Laminated Maple | f-hole Binding | N/A | | | | | |
| Back | Laminated Maple | Bracing | 2 Maple Tone Bars to Top, Full Length | | | | | |
| Sides | Laminated Maple | Finish | Nitrocellulose Lacquer | | | | | |
| Neck | | | | | | | | |
| Neck Detail | Maple “Speed Demon” | Side Marker | 6 Black Dot Stamp, 3,5,7,9,12,15 | | | | | |
| Neck Profile | D | Nut | Bone | | | | | |
| Neck Depth | 1.039″ 1st Fret, 1.470″ 12th Fret | Nut Width | 1 3/4″ | | | | | |
| Neck Attachment | Set | 12th Fret Width | 2″ | | | | | |
| Neck Heel Cap | White Celluloid Truss Adj Access | Truss | Steel Rod | | | | | |
| Fingerboard | Brazilian Rosewood | Truss Adjustment | Neck Heel, 1/4″ Nut | | | | | |
| Fingerboard Radius | 10″ | Truss Adj. Cover | N/A | | | | | |
| Fingerboard Binding | White Celluloid Fully Bound | Peghead Profile | 3-Piece Kay Triple Hump 3×3 Paddle | | | | | |
| Frets | .100″ Nickle Silver | Peghead Veneer | Tortoise Celluloid Cap | | | | | |
| Fret Count | 19 | Peghead Binding | White Celluloid Fully Bound | | | | | |
| Position Marker | 9 Block Pearlette Inlay 1,3,5,7,9,12,15, 17,19 | Peghead Logo | Speckled White, Gray, Aqua Painted Kay Script and Kay Crest | | | | | |
| Hardware | | | | | | | | |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe Single Line | Pickguard | White Celluloid Batwing | | | | | |
| Tuners Type | Individual, Closed Back, 2-screws to Peghead | Pickguard Mount | Top Screw, Mid-Side Bracket | | | | | |
| Machine Heads | CM, Scalloped Oval | Knobs | Romar, White Knurled Cupcake | | | | | |
| Tuner Bushings | CM, Round | Knob Details | Volume and Tone Gold Stamped, Set Screw | | | | | |
| Tailpiece | Kluson, CM, Hinged Trapeze | Switch Cap | CM | | | | | |
| Tailpiece Mount | 3 Screws To Bottom Side | Control Plate | Internal Plastic Mounting Plate | | | | | |
| Bridge Type | Floating, 2-piece, Thumbwheel Height Adj. | Pickup Bezel | N/A | | | | | |
| Bridge Detail | Compensated | Pickup Location | Neck, Bridge | | | | | |
| Bridge Material | Brazilian Rosewood | Pickup Mount | 2 Spring Loaded Screws to Pup Wings, Height Adj. | | | | | |
| Bridge Saddle | N/A | Strap Button | White Plastic End Pin | | | | | |
| Tremolo Arm | N/A | | | | | | | |
| Electronics | | | | | | | | |
| Pickup | Kay Mfd. “Hi-Fi” Single Coil | Switch Stamp | Centralab CRL220-010 | | | | | |
| Pickup Detail | CM Integrated Cover | Switch Detail | 3-Way Lever, Pickup Selector | | | | | |
| Pickup Date | N/A | Capacitor Stamp | Solar SEALDTITE Wax Molded Paper Cap. MFD .1, D.C.W.V. 100 | | | | | |
| Pickup Poles | Individual Screw Height Adj. | Cap Value | .1μF | | | | | |
| Pickup Wiring | Body Cavity | Cap Value Actual | P1 .114μF, P2 .110μF | | | | | |
| Pickup Output | P1 – 6.93kΩ, P2 – 7.62kΩ | Resistor | 22kΩ ±5% 1/2 watt | | | | | |
| Potentiometers | Stackpole, 2 Volume, 2 Tone | Resistor Value Actual | P1 20.8kΩ, P2 21.6kΩ | | | | | |
| Potentiometer Stamp | W3525 304446 | Wire Harness | Unshielded | | | | | |
| Potentiometer Value | V- 100kΩ, T- 500kΩ | Ground Wire | To Tailpiece | | | | | |
| Pot Value Actual | P1 V-85.4kΩ T-495kΩ, P2 V-91.2kΩ T-440kΩ | Output Jack | Switchcraft, Lower Bout Side on White Celluloid Plate, 4 Screws to Body | | | | | |
| Catalog Description | | | | | | | | |
| K172-H – Deluxe Two-Unit Spanish Electric Guitar. A new lightweight, easy to handle “pro” size that’s a full third lighter than solid body types. Clear, crisp tones, because pick-up units are mounted in solid bar which is a continuation of the neck. Twin pick-up with three-way selector switch provides instant change from bass rhythm to treble solo or to conventional. Separate controls for each unit. | | | | | | | | |
| New “Pro” size (body 12½” x 181/8”; overall length, 391/2”). Body of select curly maple, fully arched top and back. Oval rosewood fingerboard. Celluloid bound edges. Hand rubbed and polished, less amplifier . . . . . . $200.00 | | | | | | | | |
| 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 | | | | | | | | |