Kalamazoo Model KG Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1933)
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Item # 12376
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Kalamazoo Model KG Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1933), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 697, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck,spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, grey chipboard case.
This guitar is a very early example of the unique smaller-bodied flat top from Gibson's pre-WWII budget Kalamazoo line, the KG-11. This first-year version from 1933 was actually called simply the 'Model KG" and had no Gibson brand equivalent; it was specifically designed as no-frills as possible.
The guitar is built on an oddly truncated body; compared to the more upscale KG-14 or Gibson's L-00 it looks rather like the top of the upper bouts were simply lopped off. While made to a price it is actually quite a sensible and good-sounding design, built of the same quality materials as period Gibson flat tops but simply ladder-braced and without an adjustable truss rod. This early version has an unusual angled neck block which we have seen only on the earliest examples.
The top has a dark sunburst finish showing a very small highlighted area typical of the mid-1930's, a triple-bound soundhole, and on this earliest version no pickguard. There is perloid binding around the top, which is an unusual touch we have not seen before. The headstock is sharply squared on the top with a white screened Kalamazoo logo and black plastic button strip tuners; stamped on the back of the peghead is "Made By Gibson Inc. Kalamazoo Michigan" which is another unusual touch. The fairly chunky neck has a typical Gibson "V" profile and 14 frets to the body.
This guitar plays well and is an excellent choice for vintage-styled finger-style or slide blues playing; the ladder-braced top results in a sound perhaps best described as halfway between a Gibson and an old Stella. This is a cool and rare first-generation version of this depression-era Gibson budget gem.
Overall length is 38 5/8 in. (98.1 cm.), 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/16 in. (10.3 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.).
Overall this is a decently well preserved example of this primal Kalamazoo, remaining original and a solid player. The dark sunburst finish shows numerous small dings, dents and scrapes but remains quite attractive with no large areas of loss. It has had a clean neck set and refret, the original bridge has a newer bone saddle.
There is one solidly repaired but conspicuously crack on the top running back from the bridge to the rear edge; no other cracks are evident. Internally all original bracing and the small maple bridgeplate remain intact. This guitar retains the original openback strip tuners, which still work fine. It plays well with a bright and barky sound and resides in a later chipboard case. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This guitar is a very early example of the unique smaller-bodied flat top from Gibson's pre-WWII budget Kalamazoo line, the KG-11. This first-year version from 1933 was actually called simply the 'Model KG" and had no Gibson brand equivalent; it was specifically designed as no-frills as possible.
The guitar is built on an oddly truncated body; compared to the more upscale KG-14 or Gibson's L-00 it looks rather like the top of the upper bouts were simply lopped off. While made to a price it is actually quite a sensible and good-sounding design, built of the same quality materials as period Gibson flat tops but simply ladder-braced and without an adjustable truss rod. This early version has an unusual angled neck block which we have seen only on the earliest examples.
The top has a dark sunburst finish showing a very small highlighted area typical of the mid-1930's, a triple-bound soundhole, and on this earliest version no pickguard. There is perloid binding around the top, which is an unusual touch we have not seen before. The headstock is sharply squared on the top with a white screened Kalamazoo logo and black plastic button strip tuners; stamped on the back of the peghead is "Made By Gibson Inc. Kalamazoo Michigan" which is another unusual touch. The fairly chunky neck has a typical Gibson "V" profile and 14 frets to the body.
This guitar plays well and is an excellent choice for vintage-styled finger-style or slide blues playing; the ladder-braced top results in a sound perhaps best described as halfway between a Gibson and an old Stella. This is a cool and rare first-generation version of this depression-era Gibson budget gem.
Overall length is 38 5/8 in. (98.1 cm.), 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/16 in. (10.3 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.).
Overall this is a decently well preserved example of this primal Kalamazoo, remaining original and a solid player. The dark sunburst finish shows numerous small dings, dents and scrapes but remains quite attractive with no large areas of loss. It has had a clean neck set and refret, the original bridge has a newer bone saddle.
There is one solidly repaired but conspicuously crack on the top running back from the bridge to the rear edge; no other cracks are evident. Internally all original bracing and the small maple bridgeplate remain intact. This guitar retains the original openback strip tuners, which still work fine. It plays well with a bright and barky sound and resides in a later chipboard case. Overall Very Good + Condition.