The Gibson Barney Kessel wasn't designed by Barney after all ...

[Hammertone]

a while after Kessel died, I remember there was an auction selling off his personal guitars . Does anyone remember that ? Circa 2006 ?? If I recall correctly he owned very few instruments, besides the ES350 there was a bass, a solidbody, and to my surprise then also one of the Kay’s indeed ! Not a Gibson BK model.

The only BK I'd love to check out is the Roger Super that was built for and presented to him in Germany. He played it at home, never gigged with it, and his son Dan has it to this day, I believe.

[Stringswinger]

My friend Robin Nolan is playing a double cutaway Selmer style guitar these days.....more SG than BK, but perhaps the SG was the format for the BK?

[fws6]

Ha ! The Djangus !

[el diablo]

I photographed Frank Gambale in his Palm Springs CA home a few years back, and played that very same Trini guitar (along with a number of others in his collection). The guitar was surprisingly stiff, but Frank rarely played it. Would love to have one.

[roadsong2]

"In later years when Kessel was asked about the Kay guitar he commented, "I'd never play that guitar. It is awful." "