Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry. Based on the photographs and description provided, the subject of this appraisal is a Kay N3 Archtop Acoustic Guitar in a sunburst finish, circa 1961 to 1965. According to the current owner, the piece was acquired via inheritance and the piece features a serial number of L5879, which unfortunately does not definitively date the piece (a fine article on dating Kay guitars is available at https://www.snathanieladams.com/2019/08/identifying-and-dating-kay-guitars.html )

The piece features a maple top and trapeze style tailpiece, and the "T" headstock logo dates the piece in the early 1960s. Condition of the guitar is fair to good. The dot-inlaid fretboard has been altered with paint, reading "Ben Bergman" across multiple frets. Some finish checking is noted in various areas on the guitar's top, and the pickguard attachment hardware shows signs of rust.

Based on prices observed on secondhand resellers such as Reverb.com for similar guitars and factoring in condition issues as noted above, in consideration of the factors noted, a Fair Market Value (pre-auction estimate) of this piece would be estimated at $200 to $400.