1934 Kalamazoo KG-11

We're big fans of Kalamazoo instruments in the shop. They're quirky, they sound great, and you don't see them every day. It's worth remembering why these guitars exist in the first place, though. You're not buying an L-00 at a reduced price, but what you do get is a sound and playing experience that's fairly unique and, more importantly, a lot of fun.

If you spot this KG-11 hanging on the wall, you'd be forgiven for doing a quick double take. It looks vaguely familiar, but the slightly unusual, bottom heavy body shape gives it a character all of its own, quite unlike anything else in the Gibson lineup at the time. Pick it up and things start to feel a little more familiar, with a chunky V shaped neck profile reminiscent of the pre war Gibson flat tops built alongside it. It might take a little time to get used to if you don't regularly play guitars from this period, but it soon begins to feel natural once you've spent a bit of time working your way around the neck.

The first thing that strikes you when you sit down with a KG-11 is how loud it is compared to its size. The ladder braced spruce top gives it a tight, punchy response, with a raw, rootsy quality that lends itself particularly well to blues playing and open tunings. There's an undeniable boxiness to the sound, but anyone who's spent time with old parlour guitars will know that this is very much part of the appeal. There's something wonderfully unpolished about a good Kalamazoo, particularly one that's had a lifetime of playing to develop its own character.

Introduced in 1933, the KG-11 was part of Gibson's Kalamazoo range, a more affordable line of instruments built in the same factory as its more expensive counterparts. The idea was to offer players a solid wood guitar with plenty of character at a more accessible price, using simpler construction methods such as ladder bracing and dispensing with some of the appointments found on the Gibson branded instruments. The result was something quite different from a conventional Gibson flat top, and these guitars have developed a following of their own for good reason.

This example has character in spades. If you're after something with the tonal qualities of an old Stella, but with the feel of a vintage Gibson and a sound that's pure pre war blues, the KG-11 is well worth spending some time with. It's not trying to be anything other than what it is, and that's precisely what makes it so appealing.

This guitar has had a full service and appraisal by our luthiers at the Vintage Instrument Workshop, and includes a 2 year warranty for any set up or repair work with our luthiers.