1936 Gibson-made Kalamazoo KTG-11 Tenor Guitar

Above: video from 2023

Above: video from 2020

Update October 2023: the owner of this guitar is downsizing so it's back here in the shop for resale. I updated the specs a little bit but it has not changed at all since it left and it's in good order and ready to go.

I've always liked this tenor version of the KG-11 model as it's built a little lighter than the 6-strings and they tend to have a lush, rich, and punchy sound to them. Something about fifths tuning on one of these is just delightful. This one is also similar to the earlier KG-11 "Senior" model as it has binding on the back as well as the front.

The instrument arrived in good order save that it needed a neck reset desperately. There's plenty of wear and tear to the finish but structurally it arrived in better shape than usual for an old Kalamazoo. The original saddle was non-modified, too, and so I was even able to reuse it at its full original height after work was done.

Repairs included: a neck reset, fret level/dress, new customer-supplied geared banjo pegs for the headstock, replacement endpin/bridge pins, side dots install, cleaning, and setup.

Setup notes: it plays bang-on at 1/16" overall action at the 12th fret. Strings are 42w, 30w, 18w, 12 for GDAE octave mandolin tuning. The neck is straight. I can restring and retune and recompensate the saddle for whatever tuning is desired.

Scale length: 22 7/8"

Nut width: 1 1/8"

String spacing at nut: 7/8"

String spacing at bridge: 1 3/16"

Body length: 17 1/8"

Lower bout width: 14 5/8"

Waist width: 8 7/8"

Upper bout width: 9 3/4"

Side depth at endpin: 3 15/16"

Top wood: solid spruce

Back/sides wood: solid mahogany

Neck wood: mahogany

Bracing type: ladder

Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, ebony nut

Bridge: Brazilian rosewood, bone saddle

Neck feel: medium C/V shape, flat board

Weight: 2 lbs 11 oz

Condition notes: it has a ton of scratches all over the body but no cracks. How about that? Tuners and pins are replacements but otherwise it's all-original. The tuners are quite nice, too, with translucent buttons.

It comes with: an old chip case.