1930s Kalamazoo KG-14 by Gibson Guitar Demo Tour

[a333bz]

WOW..I have this very same exact KALAMAZOO guitar that was my dads.Just now looking into details on it. and finding that it is a KG-14. Every description you give matches this guitar. He always said he bought it new from a music store when he was in his late teens. He was born in 1915..Any idea what exact year in 1930's this was made?.Thanks for posting.

[LittleBrotherBlues]

@a333bz your welcome... Kalamazoo was a brand Gibson sold in the 1930s that got them through the depression. They are basically a Gibson without the adjustable neck and X bracing the Gibson models had such as the L-00 which this is the same basic guitar design except for those cost reductions.

[LittleBrotherBlues]

@a333bz Well this model helped Gibson guitar company survive the 1930s depression but they were probably not from the early 30s. More like 1935-37 would be my personal best guess. I cannot be sure due to the lack of documentation. However a lot of guitars from Kalamazoo took on this same look, finish and trim around the mid to late 30s. Make sure you make all repairs quickly and don't allow it to get too dry or the braces to come loose inside without quickly fixing. I'd use light strings.

[sonocrat]

That's one clean 14. And the pickin' ain't bad either.

[ROOBY16]

i have a 1950s stella idky but i love it more then my new gibson it just has a old sound 2 it u know

[LittleBrotherBlues]

Yeah I have the same weakness for vintage ladder braced guitars.

[bugaddi51]

Hi-nice gibson- nice picking--watch my videos-bugaddi51---

Gruss from Germany winfried

[sgsimool]

what kind of strings do you use?

[LittleBrotherBlues]

I use a custom kind that Curt Mangan makes for me. I sell them on my site for discounted price. They are best strings I ever had. See my home page (not youtube) and click on custom strings. See the link under my profile links above.

[KarloR27]

Nice fingerpicking sound off that guitar.

[lenaspieltblues]

Thank you so much for great introducing in Kalamazoo wordl. Perfectly done! Great joy ...

Best wishes from overseas, Lena

[TomYoungGuitar]

Yeah man! I enjoy my 1938 KG-12 every day. It has a maple back and spruce top. Of course a little "LB Mojo" would help the sound on mine a lot ;-)

Nice box Doug.

[bigfrank1961]

Nice box.

[BoyBeamish]

Thanks for putting together this video, LB. It looks like you found a nice one.

It's only fair to point out that many of these old KG-14s have very thin tops, and at least sometimes had 4-piece tops. The combination of the thin tops and ladder bracing made them very prone to pronounced doming of the top and other structural issues. In the "as found" state, they frequently need considerable work to make them playable. My recommendation is to be very cautious in the selection process.

[ft85915]

Sweet sound. Very nice guitar.

[Airave]

Nice Guitar there, LB! The Rocker in me

likes that 14 fret neck. How's she swing

when it comes to slide? Bodacious I bet!