1933 Kalamazoo KG11 Sunburst
Kalamazoo KG11 1933 | $1575 | (v2528) It’s pretty well known that the Great Depression caused Gibson to rethink its marketing strategy and create a ‘budget’ line of instruments and omit the Gibson name. The line was called the Kalamazoo, named after the hometown of the venerable guitar factory. Included in the production were flat tops, arch tops and mandolins, among others. The earliest we’ve seen date to about 1933 and continue through the end of the ‘30s and into the early ‘40s. They must have been good sellers, because many seem to appear on the market today.
What differentiated the Kalamazoo line from the general Gibson line? The quality of the materials and workmanship were the same as most Gibsons. But Kalamazoos lacked a truss rod and were ladder braced, which saved the company a bit of material and production costs.
This example is among the earliest. In addition to the ‘800’ series FON which appeared in '33, the guitar exhibits the squared-off and tapered head stock, un-kerffed lining, and an attractive small sunburst, typical of early ‘30 Gibson flat tops.
The top is solid spruce, stained dark, with a small sunburst, firestripe pickguard and bound in white celluloid. The sides and back are mahogany and not finished as dark as the top. The fingerboard and bridge are Brazilian rosewood (factory bridges were lacquered in this era). The neck is mahogany and carved in a 'V', typical of the period. The headstock is painted black with "Kalamazoo" stenciled in white.
The body is a truncated L-00 shape, and measures 14 3/4" across the lower bout. Scale length is 24 7/8"". The fingerboard measures 1 3/4" at the nut, and string spacing is 2 3/8" across at the saddle. The top is ladder braced. Action is set a 6 & 7/64".
The guitar is very solid with no cracks in the body and all original components but for a new saddle. We recently reset the neck; glued a thin heel crack; leveled and dressed the frets. The original finish retains a sparkle in spite of a host of nicks, dings and scrapes from time and use. Some chipping of the lacquer on the bridge.
Overall, a nice early 'players' KG11, attractively priced.
Comes with a soft case in rough condition.
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