Kalamazoo Arch Top Acoustic

This guitar plays and looks very cool. 19 frets. Kluson tuners. adjustable bridge. Oyster red/brown pickguard. Stunning brown to red to orange sunburst.

This guitar sounds fantastic to me. It sounds full and aged. I have no complaints. Everything about it just really sounds great. The middle frequencies reverberate well inside this guitar and come out sounding absolutely amazing. The lows as well, are rathing pleasing.

The action on mine is set very low and plays well. A few notes on the B and E buzz out so I will probably raise it a smidgen when I restring. The finish is as beautiful as something seventy years old can be. It's actually still very shiny with minor nicks and paint cracks. The neck is straight as an arrow.

This guitar is light-duty but would stand non-abusive live playing. The guitar I have has been taken care of well. Everything on it is solid like new. I'm careful with it because it wouldn't really take much to break the pickguard or put a hole in the body.

I haven't dealt with Gibson.

I have been playing guitar about a year. I own a Kramer electric guitar, Guild b-301 electric bass, Prelude acoustic, and Danelectro U2 electric. This guitar won't get lost or stolen. If it did for some odd reason I would go look for it. I honestly love everything about it, even the notes that buzz out. This guitar is just so inviting and it has a personality like no other.

Just received from an Ebay auction - believe it is joined at the 14th fret to the body. Does have a model number ink-stamped and viewable through one of the f-holes and a number "0007" stamped vertically into the headstock.

1930's (possibly earlier?) Kalamazoo archtop; guessing a solid spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, mahogany sunburst finish, adjustable bridge, original Kluson 3-on-a-tree black tuners; chipboard case.

Amazing sound. I bought this primarily for resale purposes. Received the guitar on a Saturday morning and spent the entire weekend playing it. The action is wonderful although the adjustable bridge seems to have been adjusted fairly high; the guitar still plays easily up and down the neck to the 12th-fret. The high E string is a little muddled below the 12th-fret; otherwise the guitar plays in tone. Amazing quality for a 70+ year old guitar.

The adjustable bridge appears to be set a little high (to compensate for a neck problem?) but the action is still amazing and the guitar plays in tone in all positions except below the 12th fret on high E string. The neck appears straight, no truss rod; the fretboard looks a little worn but again the guitar sound amazing. Original Klusons work fantastic. Amazing workmanship for its age; like to see how my Taylor holds up under similar circumstances.

Given it's already 70+ years old, I would say it is built to stand up to time well. I would take it on stage without any reservations. In fact, it is quickly becoming my fave box.

Sure Gibson is no longer supporting but see where you get with anything after 70+ years. Try taking a Model A into a Ford dealership.

Been playing for over 20 years; also own a Taylor 810BCE, a Martin Hawaiian X and a Yamaha FG165SB. I love the tone of the Kalamazoo better than early Gibson's I have owned; the smartest decision that I ever made was to purchase this guitar. I am now looking for a case that fits it as I anticipate carrying it along to many sessions.

Mine is a 1935, made in Kalamazoo, MI at the Gibson factory. It appears to have a solid spruce top, which may have been pressed, rather than carved. Dark-stained solid mahogany body (color of rosewood), mahogany neck with no truss rod, rosewood saddle and bridge, and ebony fingerboard. Single strip of plastic binding on the top of the guitar. 3 on a strip open tuners with ebony buttons. I believe mine is a KG-21, similar in size to a Gibson L-00 (15 inches across or so).

Distinctive, "echo-y" sound - tons of resonance across the mids. A little thin in the upper register and doesn't have the booming bass of a dreadnought, but overall a nice sound. "Very cool - it just sounds old" was the response of a friend who heard it for the first time.

Amazingly enough, the neck is wonderful. I actually had to raise the saddle to lessen buzzing, but now it sounds and plays wonderfully. I don't know if archtops are less susceptible to needing neck resets, but this one looks like it'll be good for many more years. Finish has been scratched and dinged, with some expected crazing, but overall has held up well.

Surprisingly durable. Both the top and back arches are solid. Tuners are having a little trouble even with light gauge strings, so they may need to be replaced at some point.

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I've been playing for 8 years or so. I own a Bourgeois Adirondack/Mahogany D, Santa Cruz OM/PW, Taylor 714C, and have owned several other guitars from Martin and Taylor. I bought this to resell it but have fallen in love with it. For a distinctive "vintage" looking and sounding guitar, these are hard to beat for the money. It's not in the same league as a premium modern archtop guitar, but it costs 1/5 as much (or less!).

For a long time I thought this thing was made around '48 but after searching the net tonight it seems '36 is the year. Wow! It might be the oldest thing I own.
The pick gaurd is long gone and the finsh has been scraped up pretty good by a previous owner's frenzyed strumming. From the photos I've been able to see of Kalamazoos I belive all the hardware is original. It stays in tune. No cerial number. A sort of tobacco burst finish. I think its a simple and elegant design..

I feel this guitar has a rich, rewarding sound. But if I was to nit pick: its a little weak in the low end and the high strings can be too biting if played hard. But I think the harmonics of the guitar are wonderful. For a while the low E buzzed against the frets - but a little agustment at the bridge fixed that without messing up the action too much.

The actions great. No flaws other that being dinged to hell. Single piece back.
Single piece neck. And as far as I can tell through the finish the top is properly book matched..

Sixtey years later and it still stays in tune. I've got one strap button at the bottom of the guitar - none at the neck.

I feel like this guitar has a lot of character. Its got a rich, full sound that I think may only come from time and use. Its well made and feels great to play. I think someone must have diched the pick gard for tone. I picked up this guitar because I couldn't get over how it felt and sounded. I wish I could find a hard shell case for it. As of now it only leaves the house when I move to a new place..
If you ever see one - get it! Kalamazoos kick ass!

I have on of these guitars
Bought it 45 years ago and am still playing it
It was made in 1936
Slightly smaller than the norm. I think it is very easy to play.
Stays in tune.
Would be ideal as a jazz guitar

It doesnt really suit my style as I play country
It has a very bright sound
It mikes well through a second mike

I havnt changed the set up ( no need to )
Don't know the timber, it is a dark sunburst colour
The finish is a little rough after 67 years

I have played a lot of live gigs and it is very strong

I have found I could'nt get any information from gibson or anyone else
I tried every place I could think of. Although it has the serial number on it.

I have been playing for 45 years. I have a Maton country acoustic/electric. (Australian Made)
Also a musicmaster Maton Bass
I muck around on a Stagg acoustic
Also a Drive amp

About 20 frets (can't remember how many right now), made in the USA by Gibson, made in the mid-30s, I have no idea what wood it is made out of, but the fretboard looks like rosewood, tuners are still good, the thing never goes out of tune. Has a f-hole on each side of the strings, no hole under the strings. the neck is wider than most oteher guitars, so bar chords are kinda tough.

It plays any music I play, and I play all kinds, has anawesome all-around sound, it is very loud because of the way it is designed.

I have no idea what it was like when it was new, but the finish is still beautiful. It has scratches on it, but the things 70-odd years old. When I first found it (it was in my attic) the binding was coming off, but that was easily fixed.

I think this guitar would stand live playing. Since it is an acoustic, there really isn't anything that would mess up on it. The finish is a little thin, but its an old guitar. It doesn't have any strap buttons on it. i could definitly depend on it and use it without a backup.

Kalamazoo as a company doesn't exist any more, but Gibson made them as a cheaper version of their guitars (I guess pre-Epiphone), so I'm sure they could help me with any problems.

I have playing for about a year, and this is the guitar I have learned on. I also have a Harmony Strat copy (will review later). If it were lost or stolen, I would find the scum who took it and rip their arms off and beat them over the head with them. This is an irreplaceable guitar that you just can't find anymore. I am constantly worrying that I will drop it and bust a big hole in it. It is an awesome guitar that sounds great.