(Used) Vintage 1930s Kalamazoo (Gibson-Made) KM-11 Spruce/Mahogany Dark Sunburst Flat-Top Mandolin #658

During the height of the Great Depression, Gibson kept its legendary Kalamazoo factory wheels turning by introducing the Kalamazoo budget line, and the KM-11 flat-top mandolin stands as one of the most successful and enduring creations from that historic era. In Good Condition, this has normal age wear, and three repaired cracks on the back of the instrument. Free of non-essential cosmetics but built with the exact same premium solid tonewoods and factory oversight as its high-end Gibson siblings, this 1930s survivor carries an incredible, authentic vintage patina. For old-time string band players and vintage collectors alike, this all-solid wood instrument offers a direct portal to pre-war American acoustic history.

Tonally, the KM-11 is a delightful surprise, packing a far rounder, punchier, and vastly louder voice than typical flat-top mandolins of the period. Built with a solid Spruce top over solid Mahogany back and sides, it features a unique hybrid ladder-bracing pattern with angled wings reinforcing the soundhole area. This structural engineering gives the instrument an exceptionally dry, woody, and clear midrange pop coupled with a sweet, dark, and creamy chime. It delivers a wide-open, old-timey character that barks cleanly on single-note melodies and drives traditional folk rhythms with unmistakable historic soul.

In the hands, this vintage treasure feels incredibly solid and fast, utilizing a comfortable Medium "V" mahogany neck profile that feels unmistakably "Gibson" from the era. The dark rosewood fingerboard offers effortless left-hand transitions across its traditional 14-inch scale length. Complete with its open-gear 4-on-a-plate brass tuners and standard cloud-style tailpiece cover, this nearly century-old mandolin has been meticulously checked over in our shop, ensuring excellent stability and playability for its next chapter of music-making.

SPECS
Body Style: A-Style Silhouette (Flat-Top Pear Shape)
Top Material: Solid Spruce
Back and Sides Material: Solid Mahogany
Neck Material: Solid Mahogany
Neck Profile: Traditional Medium "V"
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
Bracing: Hybrid Ladder Bracing (with Soundhole Support Wings)
Bridge: Non-Adjustable Floating Rosewood Bridge
Tuners: Open-Gear 4-on-a-Plate Brass Tuners
Finish: Dark Sunburst
Nut Material and Width: Bone, 1-3/16"
Scale Length: 14"
Binding: Single-Ply White/Celluloid Top Binding
Inlays: Pearloid Fret Markers
Tailpiece: Original Nickel Trapeze Tailpiece

Notice: This is a used item. While we do a basic cleaning and setup before shipping, we are unable to make any modifications to, or guarantees of condition, and or history, outside of what we have personally found, or been informed of by the original owner, which will be included in the description.

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