Kalamazoo KG-31 Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1938), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 748D-24, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 1/4 in. (41.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This prewar Kalamazoo KG-31archtop is cosmetically a little scruffy but an excellent player, as the played-in ones often are! The pressed-into-shape top arch is firm and has not sunk at all, and it has a nice straight neck with excellent angle. These ingredients make for a "good one" with Kalamazoo arched models. This one also has a comfortable round and fairly slim neck profile, not the heavy "V" neck found on some examples.
The original pickguard is missing, a modern repro is included that is not particularly authentic looking so we have left it unmounted. The guitar is otherwise original and complete with some finish checking and general wear, most notably pick marks into the wood on the top and scuffs to the back. There are several inconspicuous and very well repaired top cracks between the tailpiece and bridge with no added finish. The original tailpiece has a decent amount of corrosion but is solid and a recent strap button has been added to the side of the neck heel.
The original frets and fingerboard show some wear but playability remains excellent. This is also a good sounding guitar; the pressed spruce top gives a fairly dry sound, not as smooth as the more expensive carved-top Gibsons but plenty of punch and volume. A K&K pickup is installed under the top with an endpin jack which provides a very serviceable amplified sound. This Gibson-made budget model remains an excellent value for the price (then and now) a cool vintage player complete with a modern HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
