Kalamazoo KHG-14 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1937)
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Item # 8839
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Kalamazoo KHG-14 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1937), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 1242C (FON), sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, chipboard case.
This is a very good playing and sounding example of a fairly rare Kalamazoo guitar, the KHG-14. This was the originally Hawaiian lap-style version of the popular KG-14 flat top, but did not have a square neck nor flush frets and thus makes a very easy conversion to standard play. This one is fully set up for Spanish playing, but the neck has not been cut down or altered so retains a very wide chunky V profile.
The 12-fret neck/body junction makes for a different feeling instrument from the standard 14-fret KG-14, with a somewhat richer tone as the bridge is more centered on the ladder-braced top. This one has a nice orange-black shaded sunburst top with the classic 1930s firestripe celluloid pickguard and is quite attractive. The neck is large but fairly comfortable for its size, with a just-under 2" nut width on the unbound rosewood fingerboard. The Hawaiian model KG was only available for a few years in the late 1930's, and is far less common than its standard Spanish-style sister. We think in some ways it is a better instrument, but the KGH-14 is not recommended to a player who requires a narrow nut!
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 15/16 in. (49 mm.).
Overall this is a very nice example, in original condition except for the conversion work required for standard play. This includes a neck reset and bridge reglue but no other major repair or alteration. The original finish shows typical light checking (mostly on the top) with some scrapes, dings and dents but no heavy wear; the only touch-up is just around the neck heel.
The back center seam has been resealed nearer to the heel, but there are no other cracks visible; a long grain mark on the lower treble side looks rather like a crack from the outside but is not through the wood with no internal manifestation. The top has some bellying which is normal for these but is completely solid. For nearly 85 years on the planet this is a clean, great-playing and sounding example of this modest but delightful Gibson-made classic. Very Good + Condition.
This is a very good playing and sounding example of a fairly rare Kalamazoo guitar, the KHG-14. This was the originally Hawaiian lap-style version of the popular KG-14 flat top, but did not have a square neck nor flush frets and thus makes a very easy conversion to standard play. This one is fully set up for Spanish playing, but the neck has not been cut down or altered so retains a very wide chunky V profile.
The 12-fret neck/body junction makes for a different feeling instrument from the standard 14-fret KG-14, with a somewhat richer tone as the bridge is more centered on the ladder-braced top. This one has a nice orange-black shaded sunburst top with the classic 1930s firestripe celluloid pickguard and is quite attractive. The neck is large but fairly comfortable for its size, with a just-under 2" nut width on the unbound rosewood fingerboard. The Hawaiian model KG was only available for a few years in the late 1930's, and is far less common than its standard Spanish-style sister. We think in some ways it is a better instrument, but the KGH-14 is not recommended to a player who requires a narrow nut!
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 15/16 in. (49 mm.).
Overall this is a very nice example, in original condition except for the conversion work required for standard play. This includes a neck reset and bridge reglue but no other major repair or alteration. The original finish shows typical light checking (mostly on the top) with some scrapes, dings and dents but no heavy wear; the only touch-up is just around the neck heel.
The back center seam has been resealed nearer to the heel, but there are no other cracks visible; a long grain mark on the lower treble side looks rather like a crack from the outside but is not through the wood with no internal manifestation. The top has some bellying which is normal for these but is completely solid. For nearly 85 years on the planet this is a clean, great-playing and sounding example of this modest but delightful Gibson-made classic. Very Good + Condition.