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#1
02-25-2005, 10:57 AM
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Old Kalamazoo Archtop - Dating?
I just got a great deal at an estate auction - a cool old Gibson made Kalamazoo archtop. It has a serial number inside: 182A in black ink followed by -60, but that doesn't mean anything to me. Anybody have any experience dating these things?
Thanks,
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Andrew Wright Indianapolis, IN Rockbridge Slope D Martin America 1 Woolson Soundcraft Sig 
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#2
02-25-2005, 03:46 PM
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Will
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#3
02-25-2005, 05:00 PM
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Kalamazoid
Hello,
Kalamazoo's were made by Gibson....and your guitar's number lays out the same way as a certain series of Gibson factory order numbers that ran from '35 to '42 thereabouts... That letter "A" points strongly towards this being a guitar built in 1935, as consecutive years F.O.N's through the thirties made a short run through the alphabet starting in '35. Enjoy it.....I just love old cheap archtops....does yours have a 14 3/4" body or 16"? ziz
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#4
02-26-2005, 05:16 PM
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Thanks for the update. After looking some more, I'd come to that same conclusion myself. It's the 14 3/4" model. And if my wife finds out my plan to keep it and doesn't like the idea, it may be on the market at some point. I'll let you know.
Thanks,
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Andrew Wright Indianapolis, IN Rockbridge Slope D Martin America 1 Woolson Soundcraft Sig
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#5
02-27-2005, 06:51 AM
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I like those little 14 3/4" archtops.....
They are the same size as a Gibson L-00....comfy to play and some of them can sound great....assuming you have a taste for the sound of thirties archtops. Lots of flat top players can't quite get next to it. I've got a Gibson L-30...your guitar is the Kalamazoo version....probably the difference being that yours lacks a truss rod and I believe has a pressed or arched top rather than carved. These things don't matter too much if the guitar sounds good. Try medium strings on it....or at least on the top two...fattens up the tone sometimes....gives it a little punch. ziz
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#6
02-27-2005, 07:03 AM
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Got pictures?
Do you happen to have a picture of the guitar? What color is it?
Nice find...
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#7
02-27-2005, 08:27 AM
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It's the sunburst - a pretty one, too, IMHO. I'll post a pic soon. Really like the tone of the thing: very mellow, and the mids ring prettily. It appears to be solid wood after careful inspection, but with the mahogany stained so dark, it's hard to find obvious grain to check for inside.
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Andrew Wright Indianapolis, IN Rockbridge Slope D Martin America 1 Woolson Soundcraft Sig
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#8
03-01-2005, 11:46 AM
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I'll have some pics up tonight. Anybody know authoritatively how the tops on these Kalamazoo guitars were made? (Pressed, carved, etc.)
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Andrew Wright Indianapolis, IN Rockbridge Slope D Martin America 1 Woolson Soundcraft Sig
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#9
03-01-2005, 06:29 PM
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Looking forward to seeing it Andy...
My Gruhn Guide to Vintage guitars says that Kalamazoo archtops have arched tops....not carved, meaning that the top is arched over braces...what I take to mean sort of like some of the smaller old Martin archtops and Selmer/Maccaferri style guitars.... ...so still a solid spruce top and great potential to be a useful and good sounding guitar. Yours is likely a KG-21...introduced in early '36. So if Gruhn speaks the truth...well there it is...... ziz
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#10
03-01-2005, 09:56 PM
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Here are some pics of the thing.
In case:  Closer shot of the top (note crack at the top joint around the bridge):  How bout this playing wear...somebody used this thing often!  And finally, a closer shot of the mahogany on the back. It appears darker than in the picture - flash really made a difference.  I like the thing more and more each day. A very cool little find.
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Andrew Wright Indianapolis, IN Rockbridge Slope D Martin America 1 Woolson Soundcraft Sig
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#11
03-02-2005, 05:18 AM
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That looks great!
Its actually in very nice condition....some good hardworking playwear. Is that white paint spatterd on the back? There likely is a way to get that cleaned off without damaging he finish. Center seams pulling apart is a rather common problem on old Gibson archtops with dried out shrinking woods. So you should have that looked at and stabilized. I'm sure that this guitar went through some long spells of not being "properly humidified"! Enjoy! z 
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#13
03-12-2015, 07:21 AM
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Check out Fox Guitars http://www.fox-guitars.com/Home_Page.php
He wrote a book on Gibson's other Brands and he has answer a question for me in the past on differences between different Kalamazoo models he might be able to help you.
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- Mike ________________________________________ 2009 Taylor 716CE Spring LTD 2010 Taylor T5 Custom 2008 Taylor Solid Body (Standard SB2) 2007 Taylor Solid Body (Classic SB1) 1999 Fender Am STD Hardtail Strat
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#14
03-26-2015, 05:21 PM
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Kalamazoo
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