In 1972 Gibson produced a series of 'Guitar of the Month' brochures, each dedicated to one of their high end models, the Les Paul Recording guitar, L5-CES, ES-175D, Super 400-CES, ES-355TD-SV and Byrdland. Each brochure was a single sheet folded into four panels, with details of the instruments themselves, their features, musical purpose, and a little history behind the development of each guitar. Only the Les Paul Recording was a new model; the others were all well established in the Gibson line. Follow the link to see scans and further information on these leaflets and other Gibson guitar catalogues from the CMI and Norlin periods.

1961 Vox Stroller

The earliest versions of the Vox Stroller were actually copies of an early Japanese electricguitar, the Guyatone (also sold under the brand Antoria) LG50. These Strollers, although short-lived did undergo a few changes before taking on the more familiar Strat influenced style of many mid-sixties UK-built Vox guitars. The biggest difference between early and late LG50-style Strollers (and the two pickup version, the Shadow) was the larger pickup, a shade longer, but noticeably wider used in the very first Vox guitars. Compare this early Vox to a 1963 Stroller with the later V1 pickup. For more information about Vox guitar pickups in general, see the Vox guitar pickups page.

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1967 Kalamazoo KB-1
Solid-body electric bass

Kalamazoo KB bass main page | 1966 Kalamazoo KB1 (Mustang) | 1967 Kalamazoo KB1 (SG) | sound clips

1967 Kalamazoo KB-1 (SG style)

Model 1967 Kalamazoo KB

Pickup Gibson EB bass humbucker.

Scale 30 1/2"

Body Masonite body. 16" long, 13" wide, 1 1/8" thick. Overall length 43"

Neck Maple bolt-on neck with adjustable truss rod, rosewood fingerboard, 20 frets. Width at nut 1 3/4"

Hardware 1 volume and 1 tone control. Gibson bar bridge Gibson hand rest, Japanese closed-gear tuners

Weight 3.76 kg

Similar Models

Gibson redesigned the Kalamazoo KB bass and KG guitars in late 1966 to the increasingly popular SG body style. The headstock shape was also slightly rounded off, but all hardware/components are unchanged. Functionally they are exactly the same, and the SG shape seems to have been more popular. Compare this to the earlier Mustang-style KB bass.

Have a listen to the KB bass soundclips on this site, and compare with a soundclips of a 1966 EB-O.

These are great basses, often overlooked, except by vintage guitar collectors. True they don't have a highly polished hardwood body of a 'real' Gibson but they do have much of the tone, and a lot of the looks. The power of the Gibson EB humbucker is still there, and the neck is very comfortable. You feel like you are playing a Gibson EB-O of the same era. Gibson quality construction, and components make for a very playable bass.


The Kalamazoo KB bass has just one pickup - a very powerful Gibson bass humbucker at the neck position. This has the characteristic fat tone of the 1960s Gibson EB bass series.	Another Gibson part used on this bass is the wrap-around bar bridge, again, as used on the Gibson EB basses	The chrome plated hand rest is yet another feature of vintage Gibson bass guitars

Kalamazoo KB-1 bass controls; one volume and one tone control	KB bass headstock detail, with Kalamazoo logo	Kalamazoo KB-1 back of headstock. With Japanese closed gear tuners

The logo itself is etched into the wood	These machineheads were used on Gibson EB-O, Melody Maker and occasionally EB-3 basses in the mid-late 1960s	The neckplate is plain, 3" x 1 3/4"

The neck/fretboard were of Gibsons usual quality on these basses. The truss rod is the same as any Gibson, adjustable at the headstock end of the neck, requiring a 5/16" hex spanner to adjust.

It is interesting to note the internal body cavity contain impressions for four pots and a switch (aswell as the humbucker).