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QUIRKY VINTAGE : KAY 4144 SIZZLER “ NICK BLADE ” � Bob Cianci
Every time I ’ ve gone into Buzzy Levine ’ s Lark Street Music in Teaneck , New Jersey in recent months , I have been taken with a solidbody Kay guitar with the name “ Nick Blade ” painted on the left front of the body , along with attractive arrow-like pinstriping . Just who was Nick Blade ? Was Nick Blade a stage name ? Was he local ? What kind of music did he play on this guitar ?
A Google search turned up a small-time Florida gangster named Nick the Blade Gesualo , who died last year while sipping Pinot Grigio in an Ormond Beach restaurant . A Facebook search revealed quite a few individuals named Nick Blade , most of who were millennials . My guess is , Nick Blade the guitarist has gone on to his final reward by now . We ’ ll probably never know .
The “ Nick Blade ” Kay 4144 Sizzler guitar is a lightweight single cutaway guitar , with what Buzzy referred to as , “ a kitchen counter finish ,” better known by Kay as Brown & White Plextone , a mottled combination of colors that resembles Formica . This guitar featured a master volume and two tone switches , all with chicken head knobs that don ’ t appear to be original . The two tone controls actually don ’ t do much , and there is a rotary control that appears to have been installed at a later date , as a 1959 Kay catalog photo of the 4144 model does not show such a switch . It didn ’ t do very much either . The pickguard is a neatly stylized star shape , and there ’ s a three-way toggle switch .
The set neck is comfortably chunky , with a maple fretboard , black dot markers , and no side dots . The ’ 59 Kay catalog claims the guitar has a truss rod , but I saw no sign of one , so perhaps it ’ s non-adjustable . In any event , the neck is straight . Kluson Deluxe tuners are featured on the forked headstock , along with a prominent Kay logo . The crude wooden bridge is adjustable and does its job … sort of . The guitar has a National style resonator tailpiece . There were no serial numbers with which to help date it .
Plugged in , the 4144 tuned right up , held it ’ s tuning admirably , and played remarkably well for a budget brand guitar that is approximately fifty-eight years old and has seen better days . The lo-fi “ pickup units ”, as Kay called them , put out sufficient volume and had a nice , woody tone , making this guitar a good candidate for a blues or Americana gig . These pickups even accepted mild overdrive with ease , but I could tell they would doubtlessly squeal uncontrollably if pushed too hard . Needless to say , if you ’ re a metal shredder , pass this Kay by in your search for guitar nirvana .
The 4144 Sizzler seems to have come and gone quickly , as it was not included in the 1960 Kay catalog , perhaps replaced by the laughably hideous K4101 and K4102 Solo King models . Google them and have a good laugh . They weren ’ t one of Kay ’ s better efforts .
This “ Nick Blade ” Kay 4144 is a reminder of the days when guitarists liked to personalize their guitars with gaudy lettering , and the mystery behind its former owner is quite irresistible in a rather odd way . The price tag of this quirky specimen of America ’ s golden years of budget guitars is an even $ 1000 .
As always , the author wishes to thank Buzzy Levine of Lark Street Music in Teaneck , New Jersey for his cooperation in preparing this article .
12 May � Jun 2017 CollectibleGuitar . com