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Post by bonzo on Aug 2, 2016 18:46:06 GMT
Hi, lovely weather we're having! Some advice please. I've come across a Kalamazoo for what seems not a lot of money, in fair condition slightly bowed on the belly but generally tight all round. If I accept the bowing is historical, what gauge strings might I use to prevent worsening? I would like to play slide and finger picking. Would this guitar be ladder braced? I've read quite a bit on this forum but any advice would be very helpful. Best wishes John
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 2, 2016 19:13:29 GMT
Hi John,
It's difficult to say without seeing it, but I would maybe keep it in low open tunings. So it's the same as the open D tuning you are used to, but a step lower, so from low to high it would be...
C G C E G C, instead of D A D F# A D.
In that tuning I am sure your regular 13/56 or 15/56 would be fine
If you want a G (Spanish) tuning. Instead of D G D G B D, you would tune it to (low to high) C F C F A C.
On a fragile guitar this should be fine and C and F are lovely keys/tunings for slide guitar.
Best wishes
Shine On Michael
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 19:59:56 GMT
As MM says a photo or two would help. This is a flattop I presume? Bowed at the belly sounds like the top is pulling up at the bridge... Most vintage Kalamazoos were ladder braced and built pretty heavily, so yours could have a loose brace or two inside. Tap the top of the guitar to determine if it sounds solid or something loose inside...
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Post by bonzo on Aug 2, 2016 20:44:26 GMT
Thank you Michael and Fred,sorry no photos,just came across it today. I know nothing at all about these guitars but it does look and feel 'right'. The bowing is quite slight.and the top is well fixed to the sides. Am I right in thinking these were only made in the thirties and forties? I'd like to keep it original but would the X bracing I've read about solve the problem and would it be worth doing? Thanks for bearing with me,any more thoughts would be welcome! Best wishes John
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Post by bonzo on Aug 2, 2016 20:53:13 GMT
Sorry I should have said it's a kg12? guitar.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 22:23:09 GMT
The KG12 (I think the kg14 is similar) is a nice guitar with body style like Gibson L00, but ladder braced. Some folks do annoy the vintage gods by converting to X bracing. It is a big job to do correctly but depending upon what you pay for the guitar, may be worthwhile.
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 3, 2016 8:58:37 GMT
Hi John,
The Kalamazoo KG 12 is a very good guitar, well thought of by players and collectors. If it is cheap, I would get it and then consider what you should do with it.
Shine On Michael
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Post by davey on Aug 3, 2016 10:45:07 GMT
I've had a few Kalamazoo Guitars and their corresponding Gibsons. The KG11 looks a bit dumpy but plays well. The KG12 as I understand is the more elegant shape of the Gibson L-00 as is the KG14. (see the one I have for sale for reference)
I think the KG12's had maple back and sides and were the last version.
I've gone for X bracing but it's a matter of opinion whether or not you should do it.I think it fixes the Guitar and lets out its potential but purists might stick with ladder bracing.
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Post by rickS on Aug 3, 2016 10:50:03 GMT
I've just finished setting up a friend's KG14, has the same top distortion as you describe ( as has my old 30s Stella ) - IMO, the tops have moved as much as they're likely to over 80-odd years, but to play safe, you could use a light/low-tension set of strings - on my Stella I use Newtone Heritage, which are plenty loud, & the Kalamazoo is set up with DR 10 - 48s - sounds very light, but the tops on these things are so thin that it doesn't take much to drive'em ( + they don't have truss-rods, so they don't like too much tension ); the KG14 in open G or D has loads of bark, & really nails that Robert Johnson sound, & the Stella has plenty of low-end rumble for Patton/House stuff.
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Post by bonzo on Aug 3, 2016 14:43:37 GMT
Thanks everyone for your interest! I picked up the guitar this morning, it's identical to yours Davey so I guess it's a KG14. Serial number 3044. The bowing wasn't as bad as I first thought,the action is a little high,5mm at the 12th fret, I'll leave it alone for now,let it relax in its new home! Nice general condition,thoughts on how far to go with cleaning please. I'll get some pictures up (like I know how to!) but I'll try. Thanks again everyone,look forward to hearing from you,best wishes, John
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Post by davey on Aug 3, 2016 17:13:19 GMT
Yes, come on John we need photos. Is the neck straight ? They're pretty thick so they usually are, all the distortion is usually down to the bridge rotating forwards.
If there's a bow in the neck I have a man who can fix that.
Cheers Davey.
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Post by bonzo on Aug 4, 2016 17:16:00 GMT
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Post by bonzo on Aug 4, 2016 17:16:46 GMT
Hope you get these! John
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Post by blueshome on Aug 4, 2016 17:46:02 GMT
Does it really need cleaning, the muck is part of its history. If you must, a soft cloth damped with deionised or distilled water will do no harm.
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Post by davey on Aug 4, 2016 17:51:11 GMT
That's a nice looking Guitar. I imagine the serial number you quoted is on the back of the headstock. I've only ever seen these stamped numbers on export models & these also have the Made in USA sticker inside.
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