1939 Kalamazoo (Gibson) Unmarked Carved-top L-48-style Archtop Guitar

Overview: This looks an awful lot like a Gibson-made Kalamazoo KG-31 or the like but it has a few odd features. First, it has a carved top (rather than pressed) with narrow f-holes in the same style as an L-48, 30, or 50 from the same time. Second, the factory fretboard here is maple rather than rosewood. The headstock shape is the latter-era style and it has a 1939 factory order number stamped in its rear. The tuners are originals.

The short of it is that this is basically an L-48 from the same time but with simpler neck construction. It sounds tops -- throaty and full with that good, rounder, smoother, midsy-bass sound that you get from a Gibson as compared to an Epiphone or the like -- these make excellent backup/chordal guitars. If you like a bigger V-neck and a 1 3/4" nut, this has it as well.

Repairs included: Previously, we'd given this a neck reset, fretwork, and setup work. There are a few minor hairline cracks at the waist on the back that got a little fill, too. Recently, this came back into us via trade-for-work, and at that time Jose did an excellent refret on it. Someone else had previously done some icky crack repair work to the bass side. It's now playing like a true champ and is ready to roll.

• Weight: 3 lbs 15 oz
• Scale length: 24 3/4"
• Nut width: 1 3/4"
• Neck shape: fuller V
• Board radius: 10"
• Depth at first fret: 1"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1.1"
• Body width: 16 1/8"
• Body depth: 3 1/4"
• Top wood: solid, carved spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid maple
• Bracing type: tonebar
• Bridge: rosewood adjustable (comp'd)
• Fretboard: ebonized maple
• Neck wood: maple, likely
• 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: modern medium-jumbo

Condition notes: There's a big crack that's repaired sloppily on the bass side. There are three thin hairline cracks on the back that have been filled and are stable. There's a ton of scratches, scuffs, etc. throughout the finish. The guitar appears all-original, though the tailpiece may be later as it's not the usual type for the time. Strap buttons have been added at the heel and endpin area and an endpin jack-hole was filled down there as well. The tuner buttons have shrunken and still work but may be on their way out in the future. If desired, I can swap those out for modern cream ones or leave as-is. They're working fine right now, though the tuners themselves are only "okay."

It comes with: It has a decent, beat-up, hard case.

Consignor tag: JW/CF