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Thread: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

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    Default My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

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ID:	154516Hey all. I just purchased this 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole". It needs a few things, but I love it! Thought I'd share a few pics of it.
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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Nice.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Thanks, Mike.I know there's a few Kalamazoo lovers here.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    A few.

    I love those pickguards.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    A few.

    I love those pickguards.
    You know, the jury is still out on the pick guard. Mine looks to have been plastered over pick wear. It's really thin...almost like contact paper. And then there's the shape. I've seen smaller ones for the tenors, and this shape for the six strings. But I've also seen this exact one on a few tenors. Hmmm...

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    If you decide to replace it Stewmac sells this stuff.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Nice.
    I agree! Thats a babe for sure! Do they use solid wood on those or laminate? I've seen some of the blonde A mandos, and looks are great. Them Gibson budget brands from the 30's are really Kool to me anyway, Some of those epiphones look great also but are they pressed top/back on most because a lot have the segmented F holes "like the stradolins" or that back brace?, Just curious.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    This should be solid. The arched mandolins had pressed tops and backs. The tops were solid, some of the pressed backs might have been laminated.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    This should be solid. The arched mandolins had pressed tops and backs. The tops were solid, some of the pressed backs might have been laminated.
    This is laminate with a burl maple veneer, solid spruce top. It doesn't sound as strong finger strummed as my 34 KTG-11 does, which is solid mahogany. But boy, when you take a pick to it! She likes that!

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Well, I'll wait a while on the pick guard. Right now, she's got a date with Mike Lull over in Seattle. Neck reset, a refret, new bone saddle, and possibly a new nut. And I've already ordered a nice set of Waverly tuners with ebony buttons. The originals are really sloppy. I'll put them in a bag just in case I ever sell it. And I expected to have to have these repairs done. 77 years takes a toll on any stringed instrument.
    Last edited by TenorMan; Mar-02-2017 at 12:43pm.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Beautiful body shape - that's a nice instrument!

    Would this have originally had banjo tuners on it (not trying to stir the pot, promise!)

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Quote Originally Posted by bbcee View Post
    Beautiful body shape - that's a nice instrument!

    Would this have originally had banjo tuners on it (not trying to stir the pot, promise!)
    Thanks! No, those are the original tuners. By the 40's they were using guitar tuners on them. My 34 has banjo tuners.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    If you decide to replace it Stewmac sells this stuff.
    Hey Mike, I found this on ebay...Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	154526 This is the right style for a tenor. They want $50.00 for it.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    The bigger problem will be the scar underneath the old guard showing out around the new one.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    The bigger problem will be the scar underneath the old guard showing out around the new one.
    Yeah. You've got a point there. We'll see later on when I get ready to address it. I might just have to live with it. But it is nice to know that they are out there.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    What a beauty!! I've got a sibling Oriole Tenor, same in most respects except mine has the smaller pick guard. Mine's been modified to X bracing, sounds super. Stiffer and punchier overall compared to my other tenors. My original tuners are pretty sloppy, may upgrade as well.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

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    Here it is

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Very nice! I think I'm going to leave mine ladder braced, as the top isn't bellying too bad, and I just don't have THAT much money. One of the things that struck me when I was considering purchasing it, was the screws in the bridge. My 34 KTG-11 does not have these. But, after searching the net, and looking at a few, I discovered that these came this way, and the screw heads were covered with pearl dots. That is one of the things I'm going to have remedied when it goes in for its' overhaul next month. Oh, and I highly recommend Waverly tuners. I bought the nickel ones with the ebony buttons. And just to be on the safe side, I ordered a set of the conversion bushings. If you call in your order to StewMac, they will sell you a set of 4, instead of the full 6. Those tuners are gonna look oh so snazzy on this! And, more importantly, work flawlessly.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Oh...and the number on the neck block looks like TG74F. It's kind of faint, and it's hard to get enough light in there.
    One other thing that I have definitely got to get, is a good gig bag for it. It won't fit in my KTG-11's case, or the Boulder gig bag that my Blueridge goes in.
    Last edited by TenorMan; Mar-05-2017 at 12:45pm.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    I bought a hard case that fits mine perfectly. It's heavy-ish, but solid. I think it was a Golden Gate C-1511.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    I found a Yamaha gig bag for it at the local music store. Made to fit a classical guitar, it fits this perfectly. I also found out that my tuner holes need to be reamed, and the screw holes re drilled in order to install the Waverlys...which means that the original tuners can never be used again. Might have to sell them.

  28. #22
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    If you decide to replace it Stewmac sells this stuff.
    BTW I think Stewmac might be wrong when they say this:
    When the pickguard is installed on a typical spruce guitar top, the color and 3-dimensional depth closely match actual antique Hawksbill tortoise shell used by Martin in the '30s.
    Unless they mean the 1830s — I don't think that Martin used real TS on pickguards in the 1930s. In fact our own Frank Ford is quoted in this thread on the Martin Forums:
    I've been in the business for near 40 years, and have never seen a real tortoise pickguard on a guitar. I have seen a few old mandolins with tortoise fittings, including tortoise-clad necks.
    Certainly the ones on 1930s-40s Gibsons were celluloid. I have three of those and can attest to that.
    Jim

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    I'm pleased to announce that my Waverlys have been installed...and they look fantastic! Also, after talking with my luthier, I've come to the conclusion that my pick guard is indeed the original.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

    After being in the shop for a few months, I finally got my Oriole back. New tuners, neck reset, new frets, a new bridge had to be made as the original was 1/4 inch off, bone saddle and pins, and a new bone nut. Also had to have the pickguard removed and reglued as it was shrinking, and starting to crack the top. (Yes Mike, it was indeed the original pickguard!) She plays like she just came out of the factory yesterday! Like butter. She's absolutely gorgeous, and sings like the bird she's named after! I love it!!!
    Last edited by TenorMan; Apr-06-2018 at 9:46pm.

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    Default Re: My 1940 Kalamazoo "Oriole"

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