30's Kalamazoo archtop...action

  • Thread starter Thread starter Slackmaster2K
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Slackmaster2K

Slackmaster2K

Gone
Hey guys...I've got this old Kalamazoo archtop (maybe model KG-31?) in really nice shape. The neck is in good shape, everything is in pretty good shape.

My problem is that the action is soooo freakin high on this sucker. It's got a floating bridge with little height adjusting screws, but even taking them down all the way doesn't help much.

I wonder if moving the bridge might be an option? It's been stuck down to one place for many many years...it's warn a spot for itself. Or maybe it's on backwards....no that can't be right...hmmm.

The nut isn't that high, so it's no the problem.

The neck is fairly true, and there's no truss rod adjustment.

Thoughts? Maybe that's just how they liked em :)

Slackmaster 2000
 
Use it for playing slide-guitar.

I wouldn't make any modifications to it... that'll kill the value of the guitar.
 
There's only one place for the bridge to be, just hit a harmonic at the 12th fret and match the pitch when you play your note at the 12th.......the bridge will probably end up where it already is. The bridge adjusting screws should be about midway or a little lower, but not all the way down. It sounds like you need to have the neck reset (pretty normal for something that old). The neck may have to be removed and repositioned or just a heat lamp treatment, either way, you'll end up with a playable instrument that should be a lot of fun.
 
A decent neckset won't impair the value of the instrument; it's a periodic (well, every thirty years or so) maintenance thing. Take it to a real luthier, though.
 
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