68 Kalamazoo SG style Bass information

[BamaBird]

I may have an opportunity to snag a "slightly less than perfect" version of one of these in the stock sort of daphne blue color
I have not played it.....I have not checked the electrics.

My question is, is it worth the hour drive to do so is they are asking 200.00??

 

[gary m]

Hm...do check the neck and the joint between neck and body. I believe some if not all Kalamazoo solids were built of Masonite which can react badly to high humidity. Those I've seen are either in very good or excellent condition, but by all means look closely at this particular one before buying. If it checks out, the price is about right.

 

[BamaBird]

Thanks Gary, I hope to go take a look this weekend. It is a bolt neck, so hopefully things are o.k. but I am in a HIGH humidity area on the Gulf Coast so I will certainly give it a good going over.

 

[Kustom250]

Not masonite but a pressed wood/sawdust material.

Check fret wear as getting new frets would probably cost more then it's worth.

 

[gary m]

Not masonite but a pressed wood/sawdust material.

Check fret wear as getting new frets would probably cost more then it's worth.

Ah, thanks for clarifying. Had heard the term Masonite used to describe most generic pressed wood product. Whatever its made of, look it over carefully. Could be a fun thing. One thing's for sure, not many Kalamazoos survive, so it'll attract attention wherever you go with it.

 

[hsech]

Not masonite but a pressed wood/sawdust material.

You mean the factory floor sweepings? Just kidding.

 

[Kustom250]

Ha.

Yeah the Ikea factory.

 

[bucephylus]

That was my first bass. Mine was red. I put a chrome peace sign up on the upper horn like I was Alvin Lee or something. At one point the bass took a very gentle fall on my bed and the Masonite chipped at the neck bolt and the head stock snapped off. VERY cheap instruments. Sounded like mud. They were $125 new.

I went out and got a used P. My first real bass

I wouldn't waste my time if you are looking for a player.

 

[gary m]

Turns out Gibson contracted with a Wisconsin maker of toilet seats to make the bodies. The neck and electronics were made in Gibson's #2 plant around the corner from their main Parsons Street factory. The parts were assembled by non skilled plant workers according to an article on Vintage Guitar & Bass.com, though I'm not sure what "non skilled" folks would be doing at Gibson. Perhaps this would refer to those other than luthiers?
At any rate, assembly was pretty straightforward as all the electronics were mounted in the pickguard and just dropped into the already routed body, then the neck was bolted on. That's simple enough.

 

[fretlessman71]

That was my first bass. Mine was red. I put a chrome peace sign up on the upper horn like I was Alvin Lee or something. At one point the bass took a very gentle fall on my bed and the Masonite chipped at the neck bolt and the head stock snapped off. VERY cheap instruments. Sounded like mud. They were $125 new.

I went out and got a used P. My first real bass

I wouldn't waste my time if you are looking for a player.

Yes, they sound like mud...... glorious, character-filled mud.

Just picked one up last month - it's been repainted (maybe with RustOleum!), but it's warm and deep and true. A good sharp acrylic pick makes it sound like an upright. Very fun bass to play! Might bring it to my next jazz gig.

 

[BamaBird]

I endded up (speaking of rteviving OLD posts)
Getting this 62 SG EB --"P"-- fretless bass that got a BUNCH of "hack" mods in the 70's (oh.....the 70's) but plays like BUTTAH and sounds like rolling mudthunder