I am looking for parts for a 60s era KAPA Minstrel

If you have a string instrument of any kind that needs fixing, a mistake you made in building a new instrument that you need to "disappear," or a question about the ethics of altering an older instrument, ask here. Please note that it will be much easier for us to help you decide on the best repair method if you post some pictures of the problem.
Post Reply
Peter DiGiovanni
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2018 11:33 am

I am looking for parts for a 60s era KAPA Minstrel

Post by Peter DiGiovanni »

I am looking to rebuild a KAPA Minstrel teardrop guitar. For now, I have the body, neck and a couple of screws. I can probably fabricate the pickguard, but the hardware is difficult to find.

I would like to use a tremolo tailpiece that fits the body. The original manufacturer made their own. I ran across one company selling a replacement part in China, but that turned out to be a scam site.

Does anybody on here know someone who makes these?

Image

Image
User avatar
Barry Daniels
Posts: 3186
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:58 am
Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Re: I am looking for parts for a 60s era KAPA Minstrel

Post by Barry Daniels »

I think I have seen that at All Parts. I'll go take a look...

May have been thinking of this one:

https://www.allparts.com/SB-0224-010-Ch ... _3234.html

Or this:
https://www.allparts.com/SB-0211-010-Ch ... _3231.html
MIMF Staff
Peter DiGiovanni
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2018 11:33 am

Re: I am looking for parts for a 60s era KAPA Minstrel

Post by Peter DiGiovanni »

Thanks, but those will not work. The story behind KAPA guitars is that the owner made the guitars himself, but from what I can tell, the hardware, including the tremolo tailpiece, is a 60s era part from Hofner. It and variations of it were also used on Egmond guitars.
JC Whitney
Posts: 208
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 1:19 am

Re: I am looking for parts for a 60s era KAPA Minstrel

Post by JC Whitney »

Have you considered taking the guts off off a stock item like the one in the following link from StewMac and fabricating a new (or "relic-ed") custom face plate that matches the original? Could likely make the flat face plate from easy-to-work brass and then have it chrome plated locally...

https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Pa ... aster.html (similar to the Allparts Jazzmaster SB-0211 Barry mentioned)

Maybe also bend up and thread an arm more in keeping with the original's bend and length, have it chromed, and use the SM arm's white cap to finish it off.

Could be a fun little project.
Post Reply

Return to “String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues”