Kalamazoo KGN-12 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1941)
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Item # 11733
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Kalamazoo KGN-12 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1941), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 3216G-34 (FON), natural lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top, mahogany neck, black hard shell case.
This is a fairly rare Kalamazoo KGN-12, a late production variation of the Kalamazoo KG-14 flat-top, Gibson's best "budget" guitar for the Depression era. This 1941 model is built with a laminated maple body instead of solid mahogany, a new idea for Gibson at the time. The top is still solid spruce and finished in natural overall this was a very attractive and good sounding flat-top at an affordable price. Some of these were shipped with an "Oriole" decal on the headstock, but this one does not have that extra decoration.
KG-14's in general were the larger of the Kalamazoo flat-tops and offered excellent value for the dollar, popular among pro and semi-pro players beyond Gibson's intended student market. The KGN-12 used the same design as the KG-14; the 14 3/4" wide narrow-waisted body and 24 3/4" scale neck derived from Gibson's L-00. To lower the cost the spruce top is ladder-braced and there is no adjustable truss rod. The neck on this 1941 example has a comfortably rounded and surprisingly modern profile; earlier KGs had a sharp "V" style many players now find uncomfortable. The top is finished in natural with tortoise celluloid binding, an unusual look seen only on the later examples. The soundhole has the outer edge bound in white celluloid, the pickguard is Gibson's attractive "Firestripe" faux tortoise Celluloid, particularly attractive on a natural top.
Less expensive guitars like this were a major factor in Gibson's survival during the worst years of the great Depression but were phased out shortly after the US entered WWII. This late production 1941 blonde model is a fairly rare find compared to earlier examples built throughout the 1930s. It shows some wear but has remained in better condition than many and plays well with the typical punchy midrange tone these KGs are known for.
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This blonde Kalamazoo flat-top has seen a decent amount of use through the years but is still a good-sounding and playing pre-war guitar with a solid spruce top at a relative bargain price. This original guitar shows overall finish wear in the form of dings, chips, and scrapes, but no major areas of loss. The finish has a nice amber patina; the top shows some deeper scrapes below the pickguard and near the back edge, with some wear to the soundhole rim. The back of the neck has spots of heavier capo wear into the wood behind the second, third and fourth frets.
The neck has been cleanly reset and the frets dressed, making for a good-playing example. The rosewood bridge appears original; it has been cut down a bit and lacquered over, a long time ago from the look of it. The bridge plate is original with some wear to the pin holes. The front edge of the pickguard has been glued back down visibly. The original openback Kluson tuners are intact and fully functional.
The top has some slight bellying behind the bridge (almost always the case with these ladder braced Gibsons) but is completely stable, and there are no cracks or other repairs. This is a cool example of an end-of-the-line Kalamazoo, and one of the nicer ones we have had. These later maple-body KG's have a brighter tone than their mahogany predecessors, still retaining a well-balanced sound with a surprising sweetness when not hit too hard. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a fairly rare Kalamazoo KGN-12, a late production variation of the Kalamazoo KG-14 flat-top, Gibson's best "budget" guitar for the Depression era. This 1941 model is built with a laminated maple body instead of solid mahogany, a new idea for Gibson at the time. The top is still solid spruce and finished in natural overall this was a very attractive and good sounding flat-top at an affordable price. Some of these were shipped with an "Oriole" decal on the headstock, but this one does not have that extra decoration.
KG-14's in general were the larger of the Kalamazoo flat-tops and offered excellent value for the dollar, popular among pro and semi-pro players beyond Gibson's intended student market. The KGN-12 used the same design as the KG-14; the 14 3/4" wide narrow-waisted body and 24 3/4" scale neck derived from Gibson's L-00. To lower the cost the spruce top is ladder-braced and there is no adjustable truss rod. The neck on this 1941 example has a comfortably rounded and surprisingly modern profile; earlier KGs had a sharp "V" style many players now find uncomfortable. The top is finished in natural with tortoise celluloid binding, an unusual look seen only on the later examples. The soundhole has the outer edge bound in white celluloid, the pickguard is Gibson's attractive "Firestripe" faux tortoise Celluloid, particularly attractive on a natural top.
Less expensive guitars like this were a major factor in Gibson's survival during the worst years of the great Depression but were phased out shortly after the US entered WWII. This late production 1941 blonde model is a fairly rare find compared to earlier examples built throughout the 1930s. It shows some wear but has remained in better condition than many and plays well with the typical punchy midrange tone these KGs are known for.
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This blonde Kalamazoo flat-top has seen a decent amount of use through the years but is still a good-sounding and playing pre-war guitar with a solid spruce top at a relative bargain price. This original guitar shows overall finish wear in the form of dings, chips, and scrapes, but no major areas of loss. The finish has a nice amber patina; the top shows some deeper scrapes below the pickguard and near the back edge, with some wear to the soundhole rim. The back of the neck has spots of heavier capo wear into the wood behind the second, third and fourth frets.
The neck has been cleanly reset and the frets dressed, making for a good-playing example. The rosewood bridge appears original; it has been cut down a bit and lacquered over, a long time ago from the look of it. The bridge plate is original with some wear to the pin holes. The front edge of the pickguard has been glued back down visibly. The original openback Kluson tuners are intact and fully functional.
The top has some slight bellying behind the bridge (almost always the case with these ladder braced Gibsons) but is completely stable, and there are no cracks or other repairs. This is a cool example of an end-of-the-line Kalamazoo, and one of the nicer ones we have had. These later maple-body KG's have a brighter tone than their mahogany predecessors, still retaining a well-balanced sound with a surprising sweetness when not hit too hard. Overall Very Good + Condition.