1941 Kalamazoo KG-32N

$4995 CAD ($3596.4 USD)
For more details contact us at info@folkwaymusic.com or 855-772-0424.

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The Gibson-made Kalamazoo KG-32N is a dressed-up 16” archtop that was offered in the late 1930s and early 1940s. With its blond finish, checkerboard bindings, bound tortoise pickguard, and mosaic-button tuners the KG-32N presented better than Gibson’s L-50, despite being an off-brand model. Eighty-five years on, it still wins the contest. These are gorgeous guitars that would make a vintage guitar nut out of most anyone.

The KG-32N features a solid spruce top that’s pressed into shape and braced. The maple back and sides are most likely laminated, with an outer layer that shows a subtly attractive figure. Cream bindings add a touch of class, along with the shiny nickel-plated tailpiece. Rosewood fretboard and adjustable bridge, mahogany neck, ebony nut, and Kluson tuning machines with the unique mosaic buttons that are unique to the early 1940s, as far as we’ve seen.

This example is 100% original and unmodified. Every part of the guitar remains as it was when it left Kalamazoo in 1941. We particularly love the early ‘hot crossed buns’ looking Philips screws and the rope strap.

Set up in store, this Kalamazoo archtop plays very well with normal action and a correct neck angle. There is no truss rod in the neck, so there is a bit more relief than is ideal but this can easily be corrected with a refret if so desired. Expect a punchy archtop tone with strong mids and a little bit of overtone flower. A medium right hand attack brings out the most warmth and thickest tone.

The neck has the deep and round carve typical of 1941, with a first fret depth of .970” and a nut width of 1-11/16”. The neck depth at the 9th fret is 1.075”, scale is 24.75”, and string spread at the bridge is 2-1/8”.

With original soft shell case