Back in the days when lower-priced guitars were still made in the US, companies like Kay cranked out accessible, but USA-quality instruments for department stores and catalogs. Made by Kay in Chicago in early 1950s, this "Sherwood Deluxe" is a proper lap steel with great sound and authentic vintage charm. By today's standards, good US-made steels like these are everything you need for tone and playability.
This '50s Kay Sherwood Deluxe has a 23" scale length and a somewhat primitive bar-magnet single-coil pickup that sounds sweet through a good tube amp. The nut measures 2" across, and the strings taper out to a 2-3/16" spacing at the bridge. The 8-5/16" wide body looks to be made of solid mahogany, and the fingerboard and handrest both look like Brazilian Rosewood. Like a lot of Chicago-made '50s instruments, this lap steel was made from decent materials, and that's part of why it has held up over the years.
This Sherwood Deluxe shows some wear and tear from the years. One of the locator pins is missing from the fingerboard, and there's a drilled hole in the end from an old strap button. The finish is checked and worn in places, and most of the metal parts are corroded. That all amounts to authentic vibe and character! This '50s lap steel still plays just right, and the electronics function 100% as they should. We have it tuned in open D, but it could accommodate 6 tunings for country/western music.
This 1950s Kay Sherwood Deluxe is a vibey, retro Lap Steel that does what you need it to! It does not include a case or bag, and it's lightweight at 4 lbs 1.5 oz.