AnneS Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Yep, so I snagged a 1936-37 Kalamazoo at the Bee3 this afternoon. And, it's been converted to X-bracing by D. Sheppard, who I understand has some reputation for this work. Regardless of who did it, there's surely an x there now! It's a "Senior" (which is just funny), which the dealer thinks is a KG-14 body. But...my cursory searches so far are suggesting this model is a slightly hepped-up KG-11 (check out that burst, guard, and checkerboard sound hole!). I understand the bridge and board are Brazilian, so there goes my international tour! And, like you'd expect of pre-war, low-budget guitars, these Kalamazoos have no truss rod. That's hard to care too much about, given that the 80+ year old instrument is still with us. I think the tuners are original, as are several of the buttons. Black nut, bone saddle. The neck is a V, but not the most pronounced V of the many vintage (and re-issue) L00s I've tried over time. It's definitely a beefier neck than I'm used to, but it's not too foreign-feeling and it's definitely quite comfortable. Oh, and it's straight-good intonation all the way up. Damn. It really hits the spot for me--I've long had a hankering for another small-bodied Gibson (have a 64 LG1--definitely a ladder) but wasn't too keen on spending the big vintage bucks. At 1K, I don't think I've gone wrong; it feels great, sounds great--and looks really cool, to boot. It weighs less than 3 pounds, which is incredible. Gonna make my modern, electronics-laden gits feel like tanks by comparison. I like it. Me happy. When we're fully bonded, I'll make some clips, but for now--a coupla pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 What a cool old guitar! Now you get to experiment with strings. Have a ball, Anne! New guitar joy is such a rush, ain't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Beauty- definitely the pronounced lower bout of the KG-11; I'd always wondered if a cross brace conversion on one of those would bring a good deal more low-mid tone than most any L-00 could muster. Love the Braz bridge, "cured" finish, fire stripe 'guard, and checker-bound soundhole. Did you get to compare it to some L-00's? 1000?. . . a great price, too. Congrats- have fun tonight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 That looks fun. Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Huge cool factor on that one - enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 You have surely done it, yes! Congratulations! I have a dvd of Roy Bookbinder playing blues on one very similar..... BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Now that's a fine little guitar - what's not to love? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalex Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Very cool congrats 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Black strong stuff indeed - did anybody say X-factor. This is a guitar we absolutely need to hear (one original from the album is preferred). You are one serious folksingerin, AnneS. Then again we already knew. Congratusaltomortalations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Congratulations Anne! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Congratulations!! Very cool guitar! QM aka Jazzman Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scriv58 Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 great score- old guitars are the way to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 I don't know the guitar because I use Martins. But I do know B3. I'ma long time veteran of Philly Fall, one of B3's best shows back then. Had some really memorable weeks out in KoP with a couple dozen other drunken bums guitar players***. Whatever you got at one of those shows, it's a winner. Enjoy it, good luck with it, play it long time in good health. rct *I once was dragged to a booth that held a dozen or so early-mid 50's Teles, all definitely guaranteed CLF on the heel guitars. I had a 54 in my hands for half an hour and it was just dreamy. Looked at the tag, 10,500 American. I politely asked if he would take 9950. Suffice it to say it didn't go over well. Many many good times at that guitar show, and I know you did too. **A guy hangs around here from BossTown Mass Leh Minstah area that uses at least one big body Gibson acoustic, he knows a guy that used to come down for that show. Good muthafukkin times indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Congrats Anne. Based on the rope binding around the soundhole though I would say that guitar was built in 1935. As far as I know that is the only year Gibson used that particular decorative touch on Kalmazoos and Recording Kings. And I agree it is a KG-11 body shape (the KG-14 is believed to be the guitar Robert Johnson is holding in the "photo booth" picture which is why they are so sought after today). Ironically, Gibson's off-brand 1930s archtops were X braced with the two-hump tops. By the way, I own a 1935 Gibson-Capital without a truss rod and it has never had nor needs a neck set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 . Great looking Kazoo with an interesting mod. Congrats! . B) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatbaroque Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 "Old guitars in the garden" is one of my favorite styles of photo journalism ! . This looks cool Anne..well done.I know it will sound good...cause you bought it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwalker201 Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 I bet it will sound fantastic with you playing it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabarone Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Congratulations! That thing just screams Mojo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Superb! That is one seriously cool guitar. Lets hear it! Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Señor Kazzoo esta mmmmmuy bueno! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Neat looking guitar... how does it sound compared to newer guitars you have played? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Yeowza! You sure did do it, huh! Sports a very nice mojo.......been kicked around a lot......now it's your turn. Given your style, I can see this one becoming your #1 in time. Nice get! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneS Posted September 24, 2017 Author Share Posted September 24, 2017 Thanks for jumping in, all! So today I went back to the show for grins and played a few other 30's era L-00s and some LG-2s, ranging from 1942-57. Two L-00s were pretty outstanding, and not terribly priced--but still beyond where I could have pulled the trigger. One had a reset, the other would have needed one fairly soon. I played a handful of L-00s that didn't do it for me, underscoring what we all know:" old" doesn't automatically equal "awesome." I will take this to the local Gibson-whisperer luthier to go over the tuners for me; two are so stiff I can barely turn them, even a little. But otherwise, I'm just bonding away, getting more used to the neck and fret board. I am a generally light touch, but this one wants me to dig in, so my left hand needs to step it up a little. It's comfortable enough, but not too forgiving of my sloppy-ish fingering habits. But yes--we are both "home" now. I'm loving the sound, the mojo, and the tactile experience--and I will post some clips in the coming days. More pics!! (Note the old telephone table--of approximately the same age.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 I can't imagine an old L00 that's a dud, but there you were playing one. Bad strings, tired sound board, who knows. Is the neck angle good and action comfortably low on your new guitar? Your luthier will surely set it up, but I'm thinking this guitar would like a heavier gauge (13's) string tuned a step down from standard pitch to make that top come to life. Just a stray hunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly campbell Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Congratulations Anne - enjoy it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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