1965 Kapa Continental solidbody from one of America's greatest forgotten guitar makers

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Maryland's Kapa guitars were active from 1962-1970 but are largely forgotten today, which is a shame because they would appear to be good solid reliable instruments. Certainly from the reports I've heard, they sound really good too.

Although I say they are one of "America's greatest forgotten guitar makers", the Höfner-made necks were imported in from Germany.

To my eyes this Kapa Continental 6-string from 1965, leaning nonchalantly against an unsuspecting Harley Davidson, is quite a desirable instrument and appears to be in excellent condition for its age. The Jazzmaster/jaguar-like tremolo makes me think this guitar would perform surf music quite nicely.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $795.

G L Wilson

© 2011, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Kapa Continental XII

guitarz.blogspot.com:

We've been looking at a few vintage guitars from this "forgotten" American brand recently (see here and here) and I cannot resist showing you yet another that I have found for sale on eBay, a Kapa Continental 12-string. It features a simple, no-nonsense but elegant design.

It seems that 12-string options of production guitars were much more commonplace in the 1960s. I think these days the 12-string electric is seen as more of a niche instrument. If you've ever been out shopping for a 12-string electric (and I speak from experience), you'll know how few and far between they are on the modern-day market. It seems that eBay is your best bet if you're looking for such an instrument.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

Yet more Kapa guitars and basses

guitarz.blogspot.com:
Guitarz reader Greg Cadman has had quite a collection of Kapa guitars over the years and has kindly sent us these photos. From what information I can gather together elsewhere on the net, the above two basses are Kapa Continentals. There were also six and twelve-string guitar versions of the Continental. Pictured below are twelve and six-string examples of Kapa's hollowbody guitar, I believe its designation was the 506 (please correct me if I am wrong), and a pair of Vox Teardrop-like Kapa Minstrels.

Kapa guitars were designed and built between 1962-1970 by Dutch immigrant Kope Veneman and Company in Hyattsville, Maryland, USA. The name Kapa was composed of the initial letters of the names of Veneman's immediate family. The original guitars were assembled in the USA with German-manufactured Hofner necks and harware, while later examples used Japanese parts. When the company ceased trading in 1970, assets were sold to Mosrite and Micro-Frets.

For more, please see this excellent post on The Unique Guitar Blog.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

Kapa Minstrel 12-string electric teardrop

guitarz.blogspot.com:
Here's another Kapa guitar, this time it's a Vox-inspired teardrop-shaped Minstrel 12-string electric solidbody, complete with a Jazzmaster-style tremolo. I like that it's not a straight copy of the Vox, but that Kapa have created their own interpretation of the teardrop.

So, it's an American "copy" of a British guitar design from well before the USA-made Vox reissues and Phantom-branded replicas.

Currently for sale on eBay here.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

Kapa Cobra 1960s vintage American electric guitar

guitarz.blogspot.com:
Here we see a Kapa Cobra single-pickup electric guitar, manufactured by Kapa guitars from the early 1960s up until 1970 in Hyattsville Maryland, USA. It's a simple guitar with a design which, to my mind, owes elements to both Fender and Mosrite. It's good to see the the Jazzmaster-style tremolo system appears to be all present and correct other than the tip of the plastic on the end of the arm being broken off. The only negative as far as I'm concerned is that the colour is rather bland. (Apparently it was originally black but someone decided to give it an amateur refinish. Why did they choose such a nondescript colour? It's beige, for crying out loud!) These guitars were also available in other colours including a rather gorgeous cherry.

In 1965 this guitar would have cost $119.50. I wonder what price this example, currently for sale on eBay, will fetch.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!