1935 Kalamazoo KHG-14

$2,200

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This crack-free 1935 Kalamazoo KHG-14 was built only two years after Gibson acquired Kalamazoo.

 

So why is this 12-fret model called the KHG-"14" instead of KHG-"12"?  Who the heck knows!  I sure don't know. 

 

But I do know that the KHG-14 was to the KG-14 what the Gibson HG-00 was to the L-00 of the time. The “H” in both denoted “Hawaiian” and both the KHG-14 and HG-00 were lightly braced (ladder bracing) for Hawaiian style playing, with only raised saddle and nut, making conversion to Spanish play easy. In both cases, you get a nice 12 fret version of their sister models, making it a fabulous blues guitar with a dry, woody sound.

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This KHG-14 is in very good condition and its FON # is 955A, putting it as a 1935 model - only 2 years after Gibson purchased Kalamazoo.

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Ladder braced spruce top with original Brazilian rosewood bridge and fretboard.

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Many of these early Kalamazoos were converted to X-bracing, which may have prolonged their lifespan, but most agree that the tone suffered when converted. Not this guitar .... this example still has the lighter ladder bracing, and it has a perfect top on it with absolutely zero signs of warping, bulging or bellying.

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Bone saddle and new bone nut made at the time of conversion from Hawaiian to Spanish.

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I have it strung up with D’Addario phosphor bronze “custom lights" (.011 - .052) but it will handle lights (.012) just fine. I've never tried mediums (.013) on it because I don't think they would be good for the top due to the lighter bracing.

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Beautiful original "firestripe" celluloid pickguard over the classic Depression-era dark burst. Back, sides, and neck are solid mahogany, with the back being one piece.

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Aside from some minor visible rubbing on the back of the guitar, and a few minor scratches to the back, the guitar is in wonderful condition. Only one very small crack just above the sound hole extending to the fretboard, which has been repaired and is stable.

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This guitar has never had a neck reset and the action at the neck joint is 4/32” on the bass and 3/32” on the treble side. Very playable and enjoyable and the action is perfect if you like to play any slide blues.

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It has a wide 1.88" nut with a chunky v-neck. This one does not have a metal truss rod in the neck. (For some unknown reason, a few of these KHG guitars had a steel truss rod, detectable by magnet.)

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12 frets to the body. Body length is 19.5”. Top bout is 10.25”. Bottom bout measures 14.75”.

 

This is a very early example of one of the hardest to find Kalamazoo models and still has the original tuning machines, all of which work perfectly. None of the pegs are bent and none of the buttons are cracked.

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This guitar will ship in a modern hardshell case.

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No electronics.

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All TERMS OF SALE apply.