News
Kay 704 Vanguard Reviewed
As a follow-up to a previous post, we just posted a new review for a 1965 Kay Vanguard 704 amplifier. Check it out here! Kay 704 Vanguard with Vibrato
Amps
Kay Vanguard 704 with Vibrato
“A Briefcase Full of Blues” – The World’s First All Solid-State Guitar Amp Quick Info Summary: 1965 5-watt solid-state combo amp with built-in vibrato effect; 8-inch Alnico speaker; seven Germanium transistors and five Germanium diodes. Point-to-point hand soldered. Perfect little amp for practice or recording. Pros: Vintage 60′s tone. Extremely compact Read more…
Amps
Kay 704 Photos Posted
Finally had a chance to upload some photos of the 1965 Kay 704 Vanguard amp we acquired last month! The photos are posted here: Gallery Photos – Kay 704.
Amps
Photo Gallery: Kay 704 Vanguard Vibrato
Introduced in 1962, the Kay 700 Series of guitar amps were the world’s first mass-produced amplifiers with all solid-state electronics, using early technology Germanium transistors and diodes to replace traditional vacuum tubes.
Amps
A Briefcase Full of Blues
1965 Kay 704 Vanguard Vibrato Find the full review here: Kay 704 Review The Kay 704 Vanguard with Vibrato was the world’s first all transistor solid-state guitar amp, introduced by Kay Musical Instruments in 1962. Based on traditional tube amp design of that period, the vacuum tubes were replaced in Read more…
Amps
First Solid-State Guitar Amplifier
Lucky me! I was looking for a vintage solid-state combo amp to use at practice, and to give my trusty tube Silvertones a rest. Just scored this one off ebay today for cheap! The very first solid-state guitar amp was introduced by Kay Musical Instruments in 1962. Can’t wait for Read more…
Artists
Roger McGuinn and the Regency TR-1
Long before iPods, CD’s and Walkmans there was the transistor radio. The advent of the transistor radio is integral to the history of rock and roll. The first transistor radio, the American-made Regency TR-1, arrived on the scene in 1954 about one year before the Sony transistor. In this video Roger McGuinn, founding member Read more…