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![Gibson Kalamazoo Guitar Serial Numbers Gibson Kalamazoo Guitar Serial Numbers](http://collections.nmmusd.org/PluckedStrings/Guitars/Gibson/1467/L48GuitarPortrait.jpg)
I read that Gibson started the Kalamazoo line during the depression era to keep manufacturing but sell a model at a lower price. Kalamazoos have been around for a longer time then the 60's. I picked up a Kalamazoo at a yard sale.for 5 bucks! It is a depression era (30's) 4 string tenor guitar. I found an old Gibson ad depicting Kalamazoo from around that time.
![Gibson Gibson](http://lespaulguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/headstockback.jpg)
Information about serial numbers and production year Gibson guitars, with. 001 to 499 appeared on the instruments built in Kalamazoo, 500 to 999 built in. Been ready to change how they numbered them! Certain guitar models built in the late 1970s can be used to demonstrate the old-style 6 digit serial numbers. It is estimated that Gibson's Kalamazoo plant continued to use the 6 digit serial numbers through 1978 and 1979. So double check the serial numbers on those 1970s L-5s, Super 400s, and Super.
Ron Hubbard (of Scientology fame) played one just like it (according to web info). It is awesome! The only mod om mine was that someone cut out the pick guard to put on a pickup.which was not included. Unfortunately, no dates or serial number are visible through the f holes? This thing is definately a conversation piece. Are they worth anything on the vintage market? Anybody here have one?yeah, I have two Kalamazoo basses - one with the Fendery headstock, and one with the Thunderbirdy headstock.
They are actually quite nice basses. The fact that they are made of compressed board of some type makes you think they will sound awful, but they used genuine Gibson parts. And the humbucker is so domineering that the actual wood used has little say in how it sounds. In fact, when I first took mine to rehersal my band went mad for it. Both looks and sound The humbuckers are exactly the same as used on all EB basses - the bridges and handrests are what was on EB basses until the new intonatable bridge came out in '67. Machineheads are japanese, but did appear on some EB0s (plus Harmonys and other makes) - Consequently they tend to get parted out, as replacements for various EB0 and EB3 projects. I am trying to keep mine as is though.
Both of mine are white, but I am looking for a new blue (or maybe red) body, for a little variation. The fact that they are made of compressed board of some type makes you think they will sound awful, but they used genuine Gibson parts. The body is made of some kind of composite wood? I can't imagine how much money they even saved on that vs real wood back then!
Maybe the compressed wood cut costs because it was easier to cut and shape? The shaping and machining had to be the most expensive part of the process.everything else in the final construction would have been about the same cost if they used mostly Gibson parts. Good ol' American ingenuity.gotta love it.