Are Kalamazoo guitars any good?

These are ladder braced, but very lightly built and very nice guitars for the kind of guitars they are. They are a nice compliment to a more complex x-braced guitar because they are so fundamental. Many people swear by them for blues or ragtime. I have a Kalamazoo arch top and I absolutely love the guitar!

How do you date a Kalamazoo guitar?

The headstock shape is the best dating feature of the guitar, since Kalamazoo serialization does not follow Gibson’s. The top of your headstock tapers up to a point, placing the date of manufacture between 1938 and 1940.

What years were Gibson guitars made in Kalamazoo?

They produced about 1,600 of them from 1958 through 1960 but sales were still down and in 1960 the company discontinued the model, he said, and introduced a different solid-body style in 1961.

What guitar was made in Kalamazoo?

The Kalamazoo Gals made Gibson’s Banner line of guitars, “acoustic guitars had a gold banner on the headstock with the slogan, ‘Only a Gibson is Good Enough’.” These guitars were made until the end of the war, and used by musicians like Buddy Holly and Woody Guthrie.

Who makes Kalamazoo guitar?

Gibson
Kalamazoo is the name for two different lines of instruments produced by Gibson.

Where was the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo?

225 Parsons St., Kalamazoo
The working guitar factory is located at 225 Parsons St., Kalamazoo.

How old is my guitar?

Look for a date marker on the neck. If those two dates match up, that’s probably the exact date your guitar was built. If they don’t, it could indicate that the guitar’s neck was replaced at some point, or that the guitar was built from spare parts and is not an original build.

Can you look up guitar serial numbers?

You can look up a serial number either in Gruhn’s Guide or run the number in the manufacturer’s database. The serial number itself will give you date information and the database will have a description of the guitar so you can check the specs of the guitar in question.

Why did Gibson Close Kalamazoo?

James Deurloo, plant manager, said the reason for closing the Kalamazoo plant is purely economic. The company, now owned by Norlin Industries, has a surplus of manufacturing space. Sales have declined dramatically. Gibson sold $20 million worth of instruments in 1982 and only $14 million last year.

How can I tell if my Kalamazoo Les Paul was made?

Prior to 1984 when the Kalamazoo, MI factory was closed, the numbers 001-499 indicated Kalamazoo production. Ranking numbers 500-999 continued to indicate Nashville production through 1989. Since 1989, all Gibson acoustics are built in Bozeman, MT and all Gibson electrics are built in Nashville or Memphis.

Where are Kalamazoo guitars made?

As of 2009, those guitars fetched between $275 and $375. Guitars were built at Gibson’s old electronics plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, not the main Parsons street factory.

When did Gibson guitars leave Kalamazoo?

The company closed its Kalamazoo factory in 1984 and moved its headquarters to Nashville. That factory was later adopted by former Gibson employees who started Heritage Guitar Inc. to make handmade guitars.

How old is my guitar by serial number?

For US instruments, the serial number will start with a letter. That letter indicates the decade. The second character will usually be a number. That number indicates the specific year.

How do I identify my guitar?

Guitar builders affix their guitars with names so people know what they are playing. The most common place to find identification is on the headstock or on a label inside of the guitar, if applicable. If there is nothing on your guitar in question, chances are the original label or logo has fallen off.

Does Gibson still make guitars in Kalamazoo?

After Gibson moved all of its production to Nashville in September of 1985, a few Gibson workers decided to stay behind in Kalamazoo and open a guitar company of their own — right in Gibson’s former building. Today, the old Gibson factory at 225 Parsons Street has housed Heritage Guitar Inc.

When did Epiphone leave Kalamazoo?

The Excellente was produced from 1963 to 1969 and a total of 139 examples left the Kalamazoo factory.

Are Gibson guitars still made in Kalamazoo?

When Gibson left Kalamazoo, a number of former employees picked up right where they left off in the Parsons Street factory with Heritage Guitar Inc. After more than three decades, Heritage is still producing some of the highest-quality guitars in the world right here in Kalamazoo.

Is Gibson still in Kalamazoo?

Departure of Gibson Guitars Gibson officially closed its Parsons Street factory June 29, 1984, after spending 82 years with Kalamazoo as the company’s headquarters.

Can I look up a guitar serial number?

What is a Kalamazoo kg?

The Kalamazoo KG series were assembled at a second small facility, still in Kalamazoo, known as plant II. This was previously Gibson’s electronics plant, that had made pickups and amplifiers, at 416 E. Ransom Street, Kalamazoo. The KG was a simply built guitar, though with the same simple electronics.

How many Kalamazoo kg guitars have been shipped?

A total of 23994 Kalamazoo KG guitars were shipped between 1965 and 1969, in three colours: Flame Red, Glacier White, Las Vegas Blue. See the Kalamazoo guitar shipping totals.

Is the Kalamazoo kg similar to the Gibson Melody Maker?

Although the Kalamazoo KG shared much of it’s hardware (and latterly body style) with the Gibson Melody Maker, the two instruments were quite different in terms of construction. The Melody Maker, with it’s solid mahogany body, glued in mahogany neck and sunburst finish simply exuded Gibson tradition.

When was the Gibson Kalamazoo KG-21 made?

This Kalamazoo KG-21 was made by Gibson in the USA around 1940. It is in very nice shape for its age, although it does show some normal play wear. It is all original and it plays and sounds great, It comes with the original case.