1937-39 Kalamazoo KG-32+ / Cromwell G5+

[Sam Sherry]

Here's a unique and incredibly toneful example of Gibson's late-30s lower line.
You get all the tone and WOW do you get all the volume of a golden-era Gibson 16" acoustic archtop at a fraction of the cost!

This guitar was clearly meant to be a Cromwell G5 -- triple binding on the top, big pearl dots and the triple-dotted 12th fret.
But something happened. Did Jimmy start banging frets before Steve put the white line down the center of the board? Or did Dave sell a Kalamazoo and say, "Gents, if we want to get paid that guitar is now a Kalamazoo!"

If you're looking for an acoustic archtop that can power a band and look classy doing it, this would be that.
Big band? Sure. Manouche? Mais oui! Swing? Born for it. Singer-songwriter? No depression here!

Original pickguard, not gassy. Looks like the original Cromwell white-button machines and button. Tailpiece looks original. Can't speak for the bridge.
String height is a classic 3/32 x 2.5/32. Beefy neck with a soft vee.

No sign of a headstock break; no need for a reset. Frets show wear but it still plays clean. 3" center-seam split inside the tailpiece is repaired and tight. Very nice modern Canadian hard case with robust padding. No stamped serial number. No visible batch-marks. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, so this will be sold within the Lower 48.

Magnetic pickup? Nope. Neither the KA 2D nor the Krivo ultra-thin will fit up against the fingerboard. That is why I am selling it.
All that sound for $975 plus shipping from 04101.

Or you could wait until next time . . .

[Sam Sherry]

[Sam Sherry]