Product: Kalamazoo KG14
Price Paid: US $735 used
Submitted
11/11/2003
at
07:58pm
by
Anonymous
Features
:
8
Mid Thirties made in Kalamazoo Mich. Solid Spruce top, Solid mahogany sides and back, Tiger flame pickguard. Fourteen frets, Rosewood Fretboard, Mahogany neck. Finished with Tobacco Sunburst. Ladder braced otherwise same woods and body dimensions as Gibson L-00. THis is the lightest guitar I have ever held.
Sound
:
10
This guitar has a wide-open woody quality. It is clear and bright in the treble, a bit muted in the bass and exceptionally full in the midrange. Excellent for blues and rags. Really sings when you slide up to a note. The guitar is not suitable for all types of music, I don't really like it for finger picked folk or English/Scots ballads. But if you want something that has some funkiness to it, this guitar can really lay down a solid groove and let you pick around it. I gave it a 10 for what it does, but it won't do everything
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
THe guitar had a neck reset, Fret dressing, and new bridge/saddle when I bought it. The action is great. The neck has no truss rod, but is thick and solid. It stays straight. Original tuners replaced with Gibson Deluxe (vintage style), the rest of the guitar is original. THe finish is good for a 70 year old guitar (some checking and a few scratches). There are two small cracks that were stabilized long ago and haven't changed. THe braces are tight, no glue globs, looks solid and clean inside. I give it an 8 because its great for its age, but it also shows its age
Reliability/Durability
:
9
The guitar is incredibly light. But it has held up to 70 years of use (the guitar was used by the last two owners and I definitely use it. Despite its lightness, it has a solid feel - especially the neck which provides great leverage. I'm not sure what I couldn't depend on it for, but I wouldn't really want to use it outside the house. I'd hate to have something happen to it.
Customer Support
:
10
I haven't dealt with Gibson on this guitar, but I have dealt with them on others and they have been pleasant and helpful.
Overall Rating
:
9
I looked for a long time for this guitar. I wanted a guitar for acoustic blues and rags and didn't want to go as high as Gibson L-00's go for. My other guitars are a Taylor 512 and a Gibson L-50. THis guitar plays nearly as easily as the Taylor (which is as easy as any guitar I've ever played.) The Taylor is louder,brighter, and more balanced but the Kalamazoo has ton's more character and depth. The L-50 has the same character but a smoother quality. I'd replace the Kalamazoo if I lost it. Its fun to play and brings out a side that I like.
