1930 Gibson Bauer KK1
A fabulously unique guitar that is possibly one-of-a-kind, this Gibson-made Bauer is essentially a Kel Kroydon KK-1 with different headstock branding. We have never encountered this brand before, and it seems we’re not alone. Gibson built a handful of S.S. Stewart branded Kel Kroydon KK-1s for Bugellsein & Jacobsen (B&J) in 1930, and two decades earlier George Bauer was a partner in the S.S. Stewart banjo company; but the connection to 30’s Gibson seems weak as Bauer died in 1910, and B+J bought the S.S. Stewart trademark in 1915. The Bauer logo on this guitar’s headstock is hand-lettered, suggesting not enough of these guitars were ordered to justify the fabrication of a stencil. It’s all very interesting, but that’s all we know as of this writing.
Regardless of history, this is a seriously good sounding guitar. It was through our shop for a neck reset just about 2 years ago, so it’s a seriously good playing guitar too. Interestingly, it is built with what appears to be a Sitka spruce top. While we’ve only seen a few Sitka-topped Kel Kroydons, we have seen a handful of other Sitka-topped Gibsons models from the 1930s. They’re rare, but they’re out there. It’s a fairly lightly built guitar, but not one of the “paper-thin bridge-plate and ½” braces” guitars that can’t be strung with standard steel strings. This guitar has bracing and bridge plate that can handle regular light strings but is lightly enough built that the entire guitar shakes when you play it. The basses are strong, warm and open; the trebles are thick, round and woody, and the midrange is forward and lush. Overtones are quite present but take a supportive role to the guitar’s clean and strong fundamental. We have it set up with custom-gauged 12-52 strings and wouldn’t change a thing. The guitar takes a heavy flatpick well, and is a first-rate fingerstyle player, of course.
The majority of Kel Kroydons are built with a thin fingerboard and no truss-rod, which can make their necks prone to excessive relief issues. This guitar was built with a standard thickness fretboard and has a perfect relief curve. The neck also has a wonderful feel; it’s round and deep, and is probably the most comfortable 1-3/4” neck carve Gibson ever used. The depth at the 1st fret is .92”. Original frets have been dressed and the action is set at 5-6 64ths at the 12th fret with a full height saddle.
In particularly excellent condition, this guitar’s issues are few. It has two cleanly repaired cracks below the bridge that won’t ever show in a photo (they’re nearly invisible), there are three cleanly infilled screw-holes left by a tailpiece that was once mounted on the guitar, there is finish damage around the bridge from an old reglue attempt, and the current bridge is a perfect aged replica that Mark made for the guitar, complete with aged bone saddle and Antique Acoustics unslotted pins. The balance of the guitar is factory original and in remarkably good shape.
This guitar is available to USD buyers and is currently located in the USA with the long-time client who purchased it from us two years ago. It will be shipped directly to its new home from our client.
With original chipboard case
Regardless of history, this is a seriously good sounding guitar. It was through our shop for a neck reset just about 2 years ago, so it’s a seriously good playing guitar too. Interestingly, it is built with what appears to be a Sitka spruce top. While we’ve only seen a few Sitka-topped Kel Kroydons, we have seen a handful of other Sitka-topped Gibsons models from the 1930s. They’re rare, but they’re out there. It’s a fairly lightly built guitar, but not one of the “paper-thin bridge-plate and ½” braces” guitars that can’t be strung with standard steel strings. This guitar has bracing and bridge plate that can handle regular light strings but is lightly enough built that the entire guitar shakes when you play it. The basses are strong, warm and open; the trebles are thick, round and woody, and the midrange is forward and lush. Overtones are quite present but take a supportive role to the guitar’s clean and strong fundamental. We have it set up with custom-gauged 12-52 strings and wouldn’t change a thing. The guitar takes a heavy flatpick well, and is a first-rate fingerstyle player, of course.
The majority of Kel Kroydons are built with a thin fingerboard and no truss-rod, which can make their necks prone to excessive relief issues. This guitar was built with a standard thickness fretboard and has a perfect relief curve. The neck also has a wonderful feel; it’s round and deep, and is probably the most comfortable 1-3/4” neck carve Gibson ever used. The depth at the 1st fret is .92”. Original frets have been dressed and the action is set at 5-6 64ths at the 12th fret with a full height saddle.
In particularly excellent condition, this guitar’s issues are few. It has two cleanly repaired cracks below the bridge that won’t ever show in a photo (they’re nearly invisible), there are three cleanly infilled screw-holes left by a tailpiece that was once mounted on the guitar, there is finish damage around the bridge from an old reglue attempt, and the current bridge is a perfect aged replica that Mark made for the guitar, complete with aged bone saddle and Antique Acoustics unslotted pins. The balance of the guitar is factory original and in remarkably good shape.
This guitar is available to USD buyers and is currently located in the USA with the long-time client who purchased it from us two years ago. It will be shipped directly to its new home from our client.
With original chipboard case