{"product_id":"gibson-kel-kroydon-kk-1-flat-top-acoustic-guitar-1931-12096","title":"Gibson Kel Kroydon KK-1 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1931)","description":"Kel Kroydon KK-1 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, made by Gibson (1931), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 9806 (FON), natural top with stenciling, dark stained back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, molded plastic hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Kel Kroydon KK-I flat-top is one of those wonderful and odd Gibson creations built for a specific time and place but eventually becoming recognized as a timeless if slightly off-the-wall classic. This is what is known as the \"Birds\" example of this originally low-budget classic, with the stunning (if garish to some) colorful decorative stenciling on the top of two quizzical semi-abstract parrots facing each other. Of all variants of the KK-1, this is the most celebrated and coveted. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe quizzically named Kel Kroydon line of banjos, guitars, and mandolins was conceived in 1930 to enable Gibson to soldier through the worst part of the Depression by reducing the instruments to their bare essentials to enable the company to offer them at the lowest possible price. Nobody knows whare the name itself came from; Gibson also used it at the same time on a line of wooden toys offered as a desperate attempt to keep their factory working through the worst of the depression. The line only lasted into 1932, later replaced by the cheaper-to-make but similar in concept Kalamazoo brand instruments.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe KK-1 is the star of this rare line; it is structurally the same as a 1930 12-fret Gibson L-1 flat-top, built without the patented adjustable truss rod but otherwise little changed. These Kel Kroydons retain the *very* lightly built X-braced spruce top (later Kalamazoo-brand flat-tops do not) and are the lightest flat-top guitars Gibson ever made, which means they sound spectacular but has also meant that not that many have survived intact.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSold originally for $20 retail, by the standards of 1930 the KK-1 was still not especially inexpensive -- Sears offered guitars for $2.00! Nonetheless, it did offer an unusual value at the time with flashy looks and really exceptional sound quality for that price. For the most part the cosmetics are simple; the natural finished top and back are single-bound, there is a simple triple B\/W\/B sound hole ring, and the \"Kel Kroydon\" logo is stenciled on the headstock. BUT then there are the parrots, staring enigmatically at the each other and bridge with their enormous flowing tails curled under. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOnly some of these KK-1's had this amazing colorful tropical bird design stenciled on the top; many were plain. This is a superb example of the \"birds\" KK-1, with about the best preserved graphics we have seen. The Factory order number stamp is 9806, which by modern reckoning dates it to very early 1931. This is a lovely and fantastic-sounding little fingerpicker's guitar; an beautiful and obscure but delightful Depression-era gem and one of the most oddly distinctive products Gibson ever offered.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 38 1\/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 7\/8 in. (37.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 9\/16 in. (11.6 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3\/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3\/4 in. (44 mm.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis guitar has a only relatively light wear for one of these and is in fine structural condition, all original with no major damage or repair. The finish on the body is all original with dings, dents, and scrapes, but no other large areas of loss. The top shows typical strumwear largely below the string line both in front of and behind the sound hole on the treble side extending down into the lower bird, which is still largely intact.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese extremely lightly built Kel Kroydons have often had major repairs -- this one has survived with no cracks, which is rare on these. The top is in very solid shape with the typical light arch retaining its original bridge, which has been reglued probably more than once. A small chip was reglued in the spruce in front of the B string pin. The bridgeplate appears original; is a fairly crude small maple piece; we can't say for sure at it is a slightly different shape from period Gibson practice but if it was replaced it was a LONG time ago and there is old wear to the pin holes. Some of the bracing is a bit cruder than standard Gibson practice as well, as might be expected on a guitar \"made to the lowest possible price\".\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe guitar has had a clean neck set but retains the very small original frets in fine playable shape. The sound of this KK-1 is magical; it is exceptionally responsive and sings at the lightest touch. This is not only about the cleanest of this much coveted model we have seen, it is also a very good playing one and one of the best-sounding. Overall Excellent - Condition.","brand":"Gibson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50800331260044,"sku":"12096","price":17500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_2a5143cf-b819-4ad0-9651-543baca8a7b2.jpg?v=1781736028","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/gibson-kel-kroydon-kk-1-flat-top-acoustic-guitar-1931-12096","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}