In January 2024, I came across this awesome short scale Kalamazoo KB-1 bass at a boutique guitar shop in East Nashville, Tennessee. While some work would be required to make it playable, some quick research revealed this bass, particularly its “Vegas Blue” finish, is a rare oddball. Here’s why:
The Kalamazoo bass guitar, or Kalamazoo KB (sometimes referred to as KB1), arrived in 1966, as a companion model to two Kalamazoo KG guitars that had been launched a year earlier. Like Gibson, and as the name suggests, they were produced in Kalamazoo, Michigan; however in a separate plant to the main Gibson facility.

Kalamazoo bass guitars are perhaps not that well known outside the United States, due to their short production time, just a few years in the mid 1960s; however they were made by Gibson, in the USA, out of genuine Gibson parts, arguably superior instruments than many in the same price range ($119.50 in 1966, which equates to roughly $1,150 in today’s dollars).

The original bass had the same styling as the guitars – more or less a copy of the Fender Mustang and even offered in the same three finishes: red, white and blue.

For unclear reasons – although it would not be surprising if it was a threat from Fender – the KB bass and KG guitars were redesigned in 1966, the year they were introduced, with a SG body style.

According to VintageGuitarAndBass.com, the body style change happened very quickly after the KB bass' launch, so Mustang-style examples are far less common than the SG style.

When it comes to the Las Vegas Blue KBs, only 897 were produced in the year 1966.

It is not totally clear through my research just how many Mustang-style 66s in Vegas Blue were produced, but I can safely say this is the only one for sale on Reverb.

The classic Gibson EB Humbucker pickup is wonderfully deep and warm. I currently have some lower output pots installed, though I still have the originals plus the ashtray style string cover. With the rather large cavity beneath the pickguard, it really plays and sounds like a semi hollow body, with some upright-like tones at times.

The pickguard needed to be re drilled into the bass as some holes did not line up, rendering it difficult to play. This is a common issue, according to my research, but I had it fixed to make this bass playable. Because it really deserves to be played.

There is some wear on the finish as pictured, but the finish is in remarkably amazing condition considering the age.

Nut replaced with bone nut. Tone and volume knobs are not original. Currently has flatwound strings, .45-.100.

Scale: 30 1/2"Body: Masonite body. 16 1/2" long, 11 1/2" wide, 1 1/4" thick. Overall length 43". 'Las Vegas Blue' polyester finish. Neck: Maple bolt-on neck with adjustable truss rod, 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: ~8 lbs./4.04 kg

Thanks for reading if you made it this far. Happy to chat and answer your questions!