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Topic: kalamazoo parts needed |
Ron Victoria
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2004 2:24 pm |
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| I recently bought a kalamazoo lap steel and discovered the bridgeplate, PU, and pot/knob have been changed. It's in great shape and plays fine but I would like to bring it back to original. I realize this is a long shot, but would anyone have parts or know where I could try? Thanks, Ron |
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Kevin Mincke
From:
Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2004 4:13 pm
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| I wonder how the parts varied from a Kalamazoo 6-string electric? I have one that could be a fixer-upper. Not sure of the age 60's/early 70's? All the parts are there as I recall........ |
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Richard Shatz
From:
St. Louis
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Posted 20 Sep 2004 7:57 am
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Ron,
In the late 40s and maybe into the 50s there were several lap steel models made that had the 5-sided control plate. Harmony and Silvertone come to mind. I see these on Ebay with some frequency. The shape of the body and headstock of these instruments is almost undoubtedly Gibson (Kalamazoo). Instead of having the oval 2-blade pickup they had a metal covered pickup just like the Gibson EH-125. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/r_shatz/detail?.dir=5fd4&.dnm=b9f3.jpg
In 1941 Gibson began using the EH-125 style pickup on the Kalamazoo KEH, so I guess if you can find an old Harmony or Silvertone with this configuration, you could use the hardware to restore yours to near original.
The oval 2-blade pickup will be harder to find. I think they were also used on Recording King lap steels. |
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Ron Victoria
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 20 Sep 2004 11:50 am
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| Would anybody have a 5 sided control plate and/or pickup that would work? I could make the control plate in my metalshop. Is it unfinished aluminum? Thanks, Ron |
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Richard Shatz
From:
St. Louis
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Posted 21 Sep 2004 6:30 am
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Ron,
Mine appears to be stainless steel. It's definitely not aluminum. |
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Sonny Miller
From:
Lino Lakes, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 26 Sep 2004 8:23 am
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I walked and founf a Kalamazoo Lap steel and Amp, for sale for 300.00
I offered 200.00 for the amp and took it home. I play the Harp in a country blues band and that little amp has a lot of harp in it.
He still has the guitar left i think, and i could check and see, if you want me too. He said it was a 41,but i cant swear to that. The matching pair is Maroon.
The amp looks like a leather gibson amp but it says kalamazoo on it. |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Ron Victoria
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 28 Sep 2004 3:03 am
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| The control plate on the gibson is 5 sided. That Harmony is similar but different. I've already made the plate in shop and will get it chromed. Now I need some gibson type knobs. Thanks, Ron |
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Richard Shatz
From:
St. Louis
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Posted 28 Sep 2004 8:00 am
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Ron,
The most commonly used knobs on this model were black,octagonal pointer knobs just like ones Epiphone used on the model M and the white ones they used on the pre-Gibson era electric archtops. The photo of the control plate I sent you has the correct knobs. If you need me to send me the photo, let me know.
I have also seen them with brown Gibson knobs used in the 1940-42 era. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/r_shatz/detail?.dir=5fd4&.dnm=e8a3.jpg |
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