Red 333 Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 Has anyone any experience with a Kalamazoo KG 3/4 Sport? Are there any known issues with this guitar? What do you think is a fair price for one in good (but not excellent) condition? The KG-3/4 is a 3/4 size, ladder-braced guitar Gibson made under the Kalamazoo brand in the late 30's. A modern equivalent would be the Arlo Guthrie signature LG-2 3/4. Thanks in advance for your feedback. Red 333
62burst Posted January 16, 2011 Posted January 16, 2011 Gotta love that short-scale (~23")and deep v neck! Since no one got back to you, I'd like to voice my enthusiasm for these old Kalamazoo's: you still get that small bodied vintage Gibson fingerstyle blues (super woody) sound at a fraction of the price. 'Don't have any info specific to the 'Zoo 3/4 Sport, but depending on repair history, cracks, & general condition, they should still be able to be had for less than $2K. It's still every bit a Gibson. "It's as if somebody reached into the wrong pile of necks"(thx, Fred). Worth it.
Red 333 Posted January 16, 2011 Author Posted January 16, 2011 Thanks, 62Burst. I appreciate your feedback! Yes, the KG 3/4 I saw also had a very deep V neck, like the desirable 00 equivalents. I guess they gave those necks extra heft because they did not have a truss rod (or possibly, they may have one, but not an adjustable design--I have read x-rays reveal some of the Kalamazoos did have truss rods, but they were fixed). Anyone else have any thoughts/experience/feedback?
TommyK Posted January 16, 2011 Posted January 16, 2011 A K'zoo branded guitar is the functional equivalent of today's Epiphone or Maestro line. Gibson sold them to keep the cash flowing during the First Great Depression. Some say it was made under contract by another company. (Harmony maybe?) But that, thus far is just rumor. As far as tone, fit and finish. I'm guessing average at best. At worst it is a wall hanger to fill a spot on the wall. If I had the opportunity, I'd spend up to a hunnert bucks for one.. maybe.
Red 333 Posted January 16, 2011 Author Posted January 16, 2011 A K'zoo branded guitar is the functional equivalent of today's Epiphone or Maestro line. Gibson sold them to keep the cash flowing during the First Great Depression. Some say it was made under contract by another company. (Harmony maybe?) But that, thus far is just rumor. As far as tone, fit and finish. I'm guessing average at best. At worst it is a wall hanger to fill a spot on the wall. If I had the opportunity, I'd spend up to a hunnert bucks for one.. maybe. I think the correct metaphor would be that a Kalamazoo was the equivalent of a 60's Epiphone--made right along side thier Gibson counterparts, just with some concessions in materials (like no adjustable trus rod, simple binding, and usually stenciled and not inlayed logos) to keep costs down. The laminated top archtops sell for $600 + today; the sold wood guitars can sell for several thousands of dollars, depending on the model and condition. You'd only spend a hunnert? You'd be missing out on possibly a very nice instrument. Kalamazoo's were all Gibson-made; they were not made by others as far as I know. To the contrary, Gibson made bodies, necks, and sometimes whole guitars for other brands to keep the factories humming during the depression. Wooden toys, too. The Sport is most certainly Gibson-made, in any case. As I said, it's basically a version of the LG-2 3/4. If you want to learn more abour K'zoos, TommyK, the Fox Guitars website has an excellent and well illustrated history of Gibson-made brands that you might find intersting. Red 333
Buck Justice Posted January 17, 2011 Posted January 17, 2011 I own a Kalamazoo Sport model and absolutely love it! It is so responsive and sounds surprizingly full for a smaller body instrument. A couple things to consider: check if it needs a neck reset. They commonly do. Mine actually needs this, but I haven't had it done yet. The bridge saddle has been lowered as much as possible and the string action is still a tad high. As good as it sounds now, I'm sure having a higher saddle with better break angle would improve it even more. The other thing to consider is how narrow the fretboard width is. I love the deep V of the front-to-back profile, but sometimes I wish the fretboard was just a bit wider. I've got skinny fingers so I can adjust to it pretty well, but someone with thicker fingers may have trouble making chords.
TM Posted January 17, 2011 Posted January 17, 2011 I also owned a Sport. As stated above, Kals often need neck sets. I found the Sport very difficult to play with the 3/4 size and I have small hands. I also owned a 3/4 B25 and I recall it was easier for me to play. They are cool guitars.
Red 333 Posted January 17, 2011 Author Posted January 17, 2011 Buck and TM, thanks very much for the replies. The Sport I was looking at does seem to need (or will need) a reset. The saddle (which appears to be the one non-original component on this guitar) is fairly low, yet he strings are a little higher than what I'd like to see towards the end of the fretboard. Still, it plays well. The higher action is probably less of a problem since the scale is so short; the strings feel very compliant. Also, the top on the Sport I was looking at has a very distinct radius to it. Do the ones you've had exhibit this feature? It doesn't appear to me to be bellying as I recognize it (it's not a hump), but the soundboard itself is so small that I wonder if that's not the case. No braces seem loose, though. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Buck, your description of the sound is spot on. The Sport in question has a bigger and warmer sound than I would have expected from such a small body. It doesn't sound as boxy as other small bodies I have played, either. Even with the big neck (but you're right, it is narrow!), the little thing is as light as a feather, too. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and experiences. It's very helpful. Red 333
Jinder Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 I'd love one of these! I own a '33 KG21 'Zoo archtop parlour and it's amazing. The Sport is a flat-top, am I right? A bit of a rare beast, I believe, a K'Zoo in good condition in the UK will fetch £1000 or so. I practically thieved mine for £650...neck angle is perfect, straight as an arrow too...amazing for an 78yr old guitar! Mine has mojo to the hilt and has clearly been played for its entire life, and has the tone to match. In fact, on the album I'm currently finishing, it's the only acoustic guitar I used, bar a brief rhythm cameo by my former J45 which now belongs to my producer. It really opened my eyes with regard to how well old archtops record, and how versatile they are.
TommyK Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 ...If you want to learn more abour K'zoos, TommyK, the Fox Guitars website has an excellent and well illustrated history of Gibson-made brands that you might find intersting. Red 333 Thanks for the info Red. I'll give Fox Guitars a look see.
Red 333 Posted January 18, 2011 Author Posted January 18, 2011 I own a '33 KG21 'Zoo archtop parlour and it's amazing...Mine has mojo to the hilt and has clearly been played for its entire life, and has the tone to match. In fact, on the album I'm currently finishing, it's the only acoustic guitar I used, bar a brief rhythm cameo by my former J45 which now belongs to my producer. It really opened my eyes with regard to how well old archtops record, and how versatile they are. Thanks, Jinder. I'm glad to see you posting again, and hope you're happy with your new album and new home! Red 333
TommyK Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 Wow! That site sure did open my eyes. http://www.fox-guitars.com/ There are a whole lot more to Gibson alter egos than Epiphones, Maestros and Kalamazoos. Thanks for enlightening me.
Red 333 Posted January 18, 2011 Author Posted January 18, 2011 Wow! That site sure did open my eyes. http://www.fox-guitars.com/ There are a whole lot more to Gibson alter egos than Epiphones, Maestros and Kalamazoos. Thanks for enlightening me. I know--it pains me to think how many closet classics have been assigned to the trash bin because the owners didn't know their true origins. Thanks to Paul Fox, Tommy, not me. What an outstanding job he did. Red 333
Buck Justice Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 Also, the top on the Sport I was looking at has a very distinct radius to it. Do the ones you've had exhibit this feature? It doesn't appear to me to be bellying as I recognize it (it's not a hump), but the soundboard itself is so small that I wonder if that's not the case. No braces seem loose, though. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Red 333 I'll check out the top on mine when I get home from work. I can try to take a couple pictures to post.
Red 333 Posted January 18, 2011 Author Posted January 18, 2011 I'll check out the top on mine when I get home from work. I can try to take a couple pictures to post. That would be awesome. THANKS!!!
Mojorule Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 Red, how can you possibly resist a guitar with that name? Is it convertible? Sort of a soft-top flat-top?
TommyK Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 Red, how can you possibly resist a guitar with that name? Is it convertible? Sort of a soft-top flat-top? It's a crew cut.
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