1935 Kalamazoo KG-21 (Gibson) Archtop Guitar

Overview: I've lost track of how many KG-21s have passed through the shop. This one's a nice example, even if it's on the loved-in side, as it's early in the run (dates to '35 and has that "rooftop" headstock shape) and has a good, chunky, woody, punchy sound. I love these for backup of all sorts but it's great for chucking-along behind fiddles and banjos as well as, you know -- jazzy or bluesy stuff, too. Some folks with the right touch will get a lot out of something like this for chord-strumming dusty Americana-tinged tunes, but it's not a J-45, mind-you!

Repairs included: I gave it a neck reset, cleaned-up a few old crack repairs, and cleated a couple of short top cracks. Jose gave it a level/dress of the frets, cleaning, and general setup work. It's playing spot-on and ready to go!

• Weight: 3 lbs 11 oz
• Scale length: 24 3/4"
• Nut width: 1 3/4"
• Neck shape: medium-big V
• Board radius: 10"
• Depth at first fret: 63/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1 7/64"
• Body width: 14 3/4"
• Body depth: 4 3/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce (press-arched)
• Back & sides wood: solid mahogany
• Bracing type: fan/x-like
• Bridge: adjustable rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 54w-12 lights
• Truss rod: non-adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: low/narrow

Condition notes: There's a significant amount of pickwear and tons of scratches all over the body. There are a couple of tightly-repaired hairline cracks to the sides and a filled jack-hole, too. The top has a couple of repaired hairline cracks. The back has a few repaired hairline cracks (done before me). Folks who don't like low frets will want to refret or pass on this guitar -- it has the teeny-tiny period Gibson frets! A lot of neck-squeezers like these because it's hard to bend strings out of tune, but finger placement accuracy is a must. It's completely original throughout save for the side dots I added.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: MULK