1966 Kalamazoo KB-1 Short-Scale Bass - Project / Refinished / As-Is

An authentic 1966 Kalamazoo (Gibson-made) short-scale project bass with working electronics, and a unique metallic purple refinish.

IMPORTANT SALE TERMS: AS-IS / PROJECT STATUS

THIS INSTRUMENT IS SOLD STRICTLY AS-IS FOR PARTS OR REPAIR.

• Setup & Diagnosis: This bass has not been benchmarked, dressed, aligned, or setup by Ypsi Guitars. It is currently strung up and functioning, but it is sold as a project needing further bench attention.
• Queue Notice: This item is actively sitting in our shop restoration queue. If it does not sell prior to its scheduled bench slot, this listing will be ended immediately without notice to begin in-house restoration work.
• Return Policy: All sales are final. No returns, partial refunds, or post-sale credits will be issued under any circumstances for unlisted or undetected flaws.

MISSING / NON-ORIGINAL MODIFICATIONS

• Tuning Machines: Original tuners replaced with modern sealed bass tuners. Note: Modern mounting screws slightly project through/stick out on the front face of the headstock.
• Bridge: Replaced with an aftermarket Rickenbacker-style high-mass bass bridge (original Gibson bar bridge not included). May be a vintage Ricky bridge
• Headstock Sloppy Glue/Repair: Visible glue residue applied around the nut and low-E tuner post area on the front of the headstock face, likely an attempt to stabilize/reinforce a crack extending from the backside of the E-tuner hole.
• Aesthetics & Hardware Swaps: Non-original metallic purple/blue sparkle refinish over body with heavy player wear throughout. Non-original abalone-topped control knobs, replaced string trees, and non-original pickguard/thumb rest.

INCLUDED & HARDWARE BREAKDOWN

• Body & Neck: Original 1966 Kalamazoo maple neck with rosewood fingerboard and body.
• Weight: 8 lbs 15 oz
• Truss Rod: Functional. Fully accessible and turns smoothly with tension in both directions.
• Electronics: Appears to be the original Gibson-made EB bass humbucking pickup. Volume and tone pots both work. I am not sure if they are original
• Hardware: The nut and chrome hand rest over the strings appear to be original

THE YPSI GUITARS TAKE

Manufactured by Gibson in Kalamazoo, Michigan, these KB-1 basses carry the exact same thumping EB-style neck humbucker (mudbucker) found on mid-'60s Gibson EB-0s. The fact that the electronics on this guitar are functioning —combined with a neck that has a responsive truss rod—makes this a killer vintage player-grade foundation. Fix up the headstock repair aesthetic if you want, install new tuners if you want, and you've got a killer vintage short-scale beast that was made from vintage tonewoods from the 1960's Gibson factory!