Gots me a 1966 short scale!

[hieronymous]

Nice score! I had the Gibson Melody Maker version (SG/EB-0/EB-3 shape) in Pelham Blue - played one of the Kalamazoo ones like yours in a store but they were asking too much (IMO)

 

[P. Aaron]

Nice looking KB-1!
For the life of me I can't figure out why they added that goofy metal guard over the strings, and there's no pickup beneath it.
Is it a mudbucker like on the Gibson EBs, with the same kind of tone?

They added the superfluous metal piece because in later years, if the bass still had (because most sensible players would'a tossed the damn thing) that steel piece, they could add more to the resale price.

 

[TroyK]

I can't believe how clean that is! Someone must have bought it, tried it once, and then left it in the case for 60 years.

Nice score!

 

[GretschWretch]

They added the superfluous metal piece because in later years, if the bass still had (because most sensible players would'a tossed the damn thing) that steel piece, they could add more to the resale price.

But this is just what Gibson did back then. The EBs and Epi Newports had the same bit of metal in the same place.

This bass is the reason Fender came out with the Mustang Bass. Fender already had the Mustang and Duo-Sonic guitars, but no bass in their budget line. Kalamazoo instruments were Gibson's response, only they included a bass, which forced Fender to develop a bass to compete.

 

[bcbassman]

That metal cover is what kept your shirtsleeve off the strings when you were picking that bass.
That is a beautiful Kalamazoo bass. Have lots of fun playing it.

 

[Ostie]

I had one of those back in the day although mine was red. It will easily push a tube amp into blissful overdrive. An anachronism today but a heck of a lot of fun and will elicit stares from the uninitiated when they hear it for the first time.

My first bass was also a red KB-1.

 

[MCF]

I haven't gotten along with shorts scales in the past, but I wanted to give em one more shot especially since I saw how nice this 66 looks...

AND it balances well, not to heavy...

I have had a Danelectro longhorn and a that JMJ mustang bass and for some reason or another I decided I didn't like short scales, not sure why...

I like this bad mutha....

Congratulations Willy!

 

[lunarpollen]

Oh wow, I never knew these existed! It is lovely!!!

 

[WillyW]

Same as the one I found at the flea market in town here. How much did you get it for?

not enough money for a pristine 1966 bass and too much money for particle board….

 

[Kennoath]

That is one cool looking bass.

 

[Geogio]

I scored a Kalamazoo... when I was 13. Took it to shop class to refinish it, sanded it down discovered the particleboard, and was completely disillusioned, I couldn't believe it. Never put it back together. I mean... Come on! 60's particleboard (aka pressboard) was total garbage. I couldn't believe they would do that to literally save about $1.50 in production costs!

Luckily Vinnie (RIP) was offloading his Vox Cougar with tapewounds for $25 and I scored it. I played that for a few years.

 

[Nek07]

I have tried to like the JMJ myself, the black one was a looker, but that nitro sticky paint make me stay away from it.

 

[BassGreaser]

Nice!!

 

[WillyW]

I have tried to like the JMJ myself, the black one was a looker, but that nitro sticky paint make me stay away from it.

I think it was the fake re-licking that put me off more than the playability, was a decent enough bass other wise.

Im not worried in the slightest by the particle board, I have not now nor have I ever gotten an instrument (piano, cello, flute or bass) wet.

I am certain they only used premium tone wood pencil shavings and cigarette butts swept up from the toothpick mill floor..

 

[Nek07]

I think it was the fake re-licking that put me off more than the playability, was a decent enough bass other wise.[/MEDIA]

That worn finish is just that, a finish, you have other models without it.
As I said, it was more the nitro finish that was badly sticky (on that one and a Flea JazzBass, both mexican). Never had this feeling with a Gibson nitro though.

 

[Eli Brockway]

not enough money for a pristine 1966 bass and too much money for particle board….

But enough of a deal that it was worth it for the pickup alone, right? That was my thought process when I grabbed the one I've got.

 

[WillyW]

But enough of a deal that it was worth it for the pickup alone, right? That was my thought process when I grabbed the one I've got.

It was worth it for the bass in its entirety, it’s supremely awesome all around.

I had a 2007 SG bass and the mudbucker was nowhere near as thunderous as this monstrosity is.

I scored.

 

[WillyW]

That worn finish is just that, a finish, you have other models without it.
As I said, it was more the nitro finish that was badly sticky (on that one and a Flea JazzBass, both mexican). Never had this feeling with a Gibson nitro though.

I have and have had a few “nitro” 7enders and they are different than the many gibsons I have and have had. But I don’t recall any of my 7enders being sticky. They are just different.