Uprange Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Hi all - I'm new to the forum and looked around for a vintage Kalamazoo love thread and didn't see one. Sorry if I'm not following protocol, but if you have an old Kalamazoo or Gibson-made guitar, give a post - I'd love to see what people have out there. Here is a pic of my Kalamazoo KG-11 I picked up a couple years ago. I know it is probably the lowest rung of the pre-war ladder, but I was looking for a KG-14 and this was erroneously listed as a 14. No one wanted it, so I got her at a good price. Although it looks pretty beat up, the neck is straight, the action is low, and it sounds like the blues. She probably has another 80 years left in her. I had never played a guitar with a real V-neck before and immediately loved it. Really fun to play and loud as hell. Anyone else out there with something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jun3machina Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 sweet thread! i just discovered the wide world of kalamazoo recently. I have a KG-31 archtop and a 1939 lap steel which im currently in process of refurbishing, trying to find all original parts. both were purchased on ebay. the archtop i knew nothing about besides being drawn to it aesthetically at first. but it plays beautifully and has since become the main acoustic in my collection. still not entirely sure on the year of manufacture, but sometimes between the 30's and 40's. the lap steel was basically stripped when i bought it. someone took the pick-up clean out, and cut the strings as well as putting really crappy tuners on it. i have since found original kluson tuners, got a deadstock pack of steel kalamazoo strings from way back when (orange box and wax paper envelopes, never used!) and me and my lil brother installed a temp pick-up until we can find the right fit. both are really quality instruments. and such a joy to play. i love gibson brand too, but there's something i really dig about these old kalamazoo guitars...the look and sound, etc. so big fan here!! here are my two: the lapsteel before we fixed it: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 I don,t have any......yet! Yours looks real nice I certainly would not pass one up at the right price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uprange Posted November 26, 2012 Author Share Posted November 26, 2012 sweet thread! i just discovered the wide world of kalamazoo recently. I have a KG-31 archtop and a 1939 lap steel which im currently in process of refurbishing, trying to find all original parts. both were purchased on ebay. the archtop i knew nothing about besides being drawn to it aesthetically at first. but it plays beautifully and has since become the main acoustic in my collection. still not entirely sure on the year of manufacture, but sometimes between the 30's and 40's. the lap steel was basically stripped when i bought it. someone took the pick-up clean out, and cut the strings as well as putting really crappy tuners on it. i have since found original kluson tuners, got a deadstock pack of steel kalamazoo strings from way back when (orange box and wax paper envelopes, never used!) and me and my lil brother installed a temp pick-up until we can find the right fit. both are really quality instruments. and such a joy to play. i love gibson brand too, but there's something i really dig about these old kalamazoo guitars...the look and sound, etc. so big fan here!! here are my two: the lapsteel before we fixed it: You got lucky finding one with a pickguard! They are usually long gone. Nice! I had an old Kay Kraft Venetian with a pickguard which was a little warped and it used to buzz against the body like crazy. I attached a little square of foam under the PG and problem solved. Easy to completely remove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I had an old Kay Kraft Venetian with a pickguard which was a little warped and it used to buzz against the body like crazy. I attached a little square of foam under the PG and problem solved. Easy to completely remove. Lawdy, they did have some flimsy pickguard. I had to do the same thing with a Ventian and a Kay Deluxe K-2 (one of the last round soundhole archtops with the Zorzi adjustable neck made by Kay). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I have owned both a KG-11 and KG-14 and am currently entertaining the idea of picking up a KG-11 I stumbled across. Just waiting to see if a Schmidt Stella that I have heard rumors of shws up at my doorstep. I should know by the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbob Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Hi all - I'm new to the forum and looked around for a vintage Kalamazoo love thread and didn't see one. Sorry if I'm not following protocol, but if you have an old Kalamazoo or Gibson-made guitar, give a post - I'd love to see what people have out there. Here is a pic of my Kalamazoo KG-11 I picked up a couple years ago. I know it is probably the lowest rung of the pre-war ladder, but I was looking for a KG-14 and this was erroneously listed as a 14. No one wanted it, so I got her at a good price. Although it looks pretty beat up, the neck is straight, the action is low, and it sounds like the blues. She probably has another 80 years left in her. I had never played a guitar with a real V-neck before and immediately loved it. Really fun to play and loud as hell. Anyone else out there with something? Here's my KG-11 - LOVE it! Original case and only one 'ding'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uprange Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 Here's my KG-11 - LOVE it! Original case and only one 'ding'. What a beaut! Looks like one of the older ones, too! Where did you find one in such good condition? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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