Description
This is a Kapa Ministrel guitar, made in Maryland circa 1969. It features a solid, tear-drop shaped body, Candy Apple Red finish, three pickups, a black plastic pickguard on which all of the electronics and bridge are mounted, black knobs with metallic tops, a height adjustable bridge, two metal strap pins, and whammy tailpiece. The whammy/tremolo is a pull-up versus push down action. It appears to be all original, in very good condition and rare. Its thin neck and flat fingerboard makes riffing a breeze. With its fast action and dynamic tonal range, this guitar plays and sounds bold and unique. It’s a nicely balanced tear-drop that can actually be played sitting down. It comes with a top-quality, grey and black, original hard shell case (OHSC) the inside has extra padding and other wear. The pots date to 1966 but they may have just been in stock when this was made.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
CONDITION:
The guitar appears to be all original and in good condition. There are small lines of crazing on the body and small nicks on the side and buckle-rash wear on the back. The pickguard has two super small cracks by the bridge pickup adjustment screws. Even with this wear that one would expect from a pushing 60 year old instrument, it is a beautiful guitar that plays nicely and sounds sweet.
TUNERS:
The six in-line, opened-back tuners with metal buttons, are in very good working condition. All of the tuners are smooth and hold the pitch well.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
NECK:
It has a straight, bolt-on, neck with circular mots inlays on a rosewood fretboard, a plastic nut, 23 frets (including the zero fret) and a 25″ scale. The headstock, featuring a natural finish with the crown and shield Kapa logo, has very minor wear on the top. The frets are in good shape and play correctly. The neck is kept straight with an adjustable a truss rod located at the body side by the pickguard. With its super fast action, this thin neck feels fantastic under your fingers.
PICKUPS:
This guitar has three single coil pickups with an interest array of tones. They are all super strong, clean, bright yet warm and round tone with the tone controls on. Each pickup has an on/off control but works in combination with the other to get some very bold and dynamic tones. There’s one volume knob and three tone knobs (one for each pickup.) This Kapa Minstrel has a truly broad range of tone that is suitable for rock, blues, country, rockabilly, soul, funk, jazz, and you can even put out some serious metal if desired. Description from VintageSilvertones.com
The Dimensions are:
Overall length: 41″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Body width: 12″
Body thickness: 1.51″ with neck 2.1″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Scale: 25″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Width of the nut: 1.75″ (depth 0.78″ approx)
String height at 12th fret: 0.02″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Here’s the original description from a 1969 Kapa catalog:
Ministrel
The Ministrel Line is entirely new in design and especially created for the successful modern musician. The balance and playing quality of these instruments is superb. Every instrument has the famous ultra slim KAPA neck, truly the easiest playing guitar in the world. Available in Sunburst, Black, White, Candy Apple Red, or Metallic Blue.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
6-string guitar in a Tear-drop design of just the right size. 3 extra powerful pickups. Simplified controls for each pick-up. Supplied with chrome plated machine heads and the finest quality hardware.
List Price $269.50Description from VintageSilvertones.com
