Kalamazoo KB

Late ?60?s, USA made, fretted 4-string
The blighted offspring of an unholy coupling between a Fender Mustang bass and a Gibson EB-3. Basically a reasonably accurate Mustang copy, with a rather decent short-scale bolt on neck (maple with rosewood fingerboard, truss-rod, Japanese made 4-in-line machines) and rather nasty body made from high-density chipboard, painted gloss black, with white Perspex scratch-plate. Pick-ups and bridge straight from the EB-3 parts bin: huge chromed neck humbucker, small chromed bridge humbucker, and cast bridge/tailpiece with two height adjustment screws only. Two volume and two passive tone controls. Superb quality fittings for such a budget instrument, in particular the bridge pick-up, but not the truly dire bridge or cheap-looking control knobs

I got this bass to learn on when I was 16 and punk was exploding on the UK scene, so I had nothing else to really compare it to. I couldn?t get a decent sound out of it; the neck pick-up blew my first amp (home-made by my brother), and even with a decent second amp Carlsboro Stingray with 4x12")it sounded woolly and dull. However, once I?d got a bit of skill I tried changing from playing with a pick to playing finger-style, and the sound was vastly improved, a much more refined, Jack Bruce kind of sound, even a pretty good slap tone. However even with two pick-ups I couldn?t get much beyond an old-school rock-blues tone, and once I?d finished growing I needed a long-scale bass anyway.

Even for an old instrument the neck was straight, action reasonable, and the intonation of course unadjustable. Finish was wearing badly, a thin paint job.

During the three years or so I gigged with the Kalamazoo it never let me down. Durability I can?t comment on, as even though I didn?t have the heart to sell the bass I took it to bits in 1980, put the neck pick-up on a Jazz bass copy I was using then (long since gone), trashed the body, and kept the neck and hard-ware with the idea of making an Explorer-bodied custom (still haven?t, but still got the bits!)Plating on hardware still fine after nearly 40 years

Kalamazo long since defunct.

Despite the low previous marks, I?m marking this here as a budget instrument, and as such, it would be hard to better. There wasn?t much around in this class in the ?70?s, only some rather horrible Japanese copies. For a first,cheap bass this was truly glamorous: it was American made (it had Gibson pickups for Chrissakes), it looked mean; very rock 'n roll, and it had a very playable neck. I suppose acquiring your first instrument is a bit like your first girlfriend; you don?t really know what you?re getting yourself into ? (you think it?s supposed to be fun but it seems too much like hard work), you can?t really afford her, you?re sensitive to other peoples comments about her, and your clumsy fumblings soon change to slick expertise. And you never forget her.

Bass was made sometime between 1968 and 1971 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Flame-Red SG body style, white single-ply pickguard, and short 30" scale maple neck. Narrow Rosewood fingerboard and Fender style headstock. Body appears to be laminated plywood, but is heavy and solid-feeling. Single passive humbucker in neck position. One volume and one tone control. Overall, vary basic.

Has a muddy, woody tone, which is on par for a 60's short-scale bass. I used to plug it into an old Crate guitar amp. I now have SWR amps, but I would swear it still sounds better on the old Crate. Since I play jazz and modern rock, it doesn't really fit into my style at all. It is a keepsake, really, as it was my first bass. I suppose if I ever decide to start playing Cream covers, it would come in handy.

Bass came into my possession in used, unstrung condition. However, for an old bass it is in excellent physical condition, overall. The flame red paint still shines like new. It has some belt buckle marks on the back, and a few minor bumps here and there, but it still looks very good. The original pickguard was yellowed and cracked. I took it off to save it and had a new white single-ply guard made to fit. It looks awesome. I imagine it's first owner(s) played it a while, then hid it under the bed for a few years.

I never used this bass to gig, only to learn on. It's a neat little bass, but I don't think I would try to use it in a live playing situation. It might last a few years, but it's an antique and I don't think I would risk it.

Never had a problem with it, Kalamazoo is long gone, and Gibson wouldn't know how to help, anyway.

I have been playing bass for 16 years. I currently play Fender basses and SWR amps. If the KB was stolen, I would be sad as it is my first bass, but I probably would not try to replace it. I mean, I only paid $5 for it, but I have seen them go for over $200 on eBay. I'd rather spend that money on equipment I can use.