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musical instrument details
2000 Gibson Kalamazoo Award Sunburst Archtop Guitar (Citation, Super 400)
Estimated price for orientation: 17 999 $
Category: Gibson SG Standard Historic Reis
Class:
Description Brand: Gibson Dexterity: Right-Handed MPN: Does Not Apply Body Color: Sunburst Body Type: Hollow Body Material: Acrylic, Solid Wood Model: Kalamazoo Award Country of Manufacture: USA String Configuration: 6 String Style: Archtop UPC: Does not apply
Here we have one of the finest archtop guitars Gibson has ever built. The Kalamazoo Award was designed in the late 1970's. I'll post the story of its creation at the end of this listing. Suffice it to say, for now, that Gibson was so impressed with the original guitar that they dubbed the name "Kalamazoo Award" for the guitar.
This guitar comes from the estate of famed Jazz composer/arranger Robert Yelin. He was the sole owner of the guitar until he recently passed away. The guitar is accompanied by a letter from his wife detailing his ownership of the guitar.The guitar features some impressive specs: extremely flamed maple body, matching flamed maple pickguard, abalone inlays, ebony fretboard, ebony bridge, ebony tailpiece insert, hand-engraved tuners, etc.I am immediately drawn to the eagle-and-branch inlays when I look at this guitar. They are beautiful in a very intriguing way. This level of ornamentation is rarely found on any guitar. This is a top-level instrument similar to the famed "Gibson Citation." The original Kalamazoo Award was produced from 1978 to 1984, with only 85 instruments being produced. This one was built in 2000 as part of a very limited reissue.The guitar is near-mint condition. There are some light pick marks on the pickguard from the strumming of Robert Yelin. Aside from some very slight pitting of the gold hardware, the guitar is perfect.Included with the guitar is the original hardshell case, case candy, and letter of provenance from Harriet Yelin.Feel free to call me with any questions: 435.406.9281Story of the Kalamazoo Award's origin:In 1978, Gibson also offered a similar guitar {to the Gibson Citation}. It was designed by Gibson craftsman Wilbur Fuller and was totally hand-carved and “tuned-by-ear”. After building the first model, the company was so impressed they designated it the Kalamazoo Award guitar.It too had a full-depth 17” archtop with a rounded cutaway, solid carved maple top, solid maple sides and carved maple back. It was topped with an ebony bridge with pearl inlays. The pickguard was made of matching wood and bound with abalone inlay. The f-holes were bound. The 5 piece maple neck was also bound, and topped with an ebony fretboard.The ebony headstock was bound on the top and a beautiful eagle and branch abalone inlay topped the guitar directly under the word Gibson, which was spelled out in abalone. The back of the ebony headstock featured a diamond shaped inlay done in beautiful abalone.Fuller was a true luthier that studied with old craftsmen. This was his dream guitar. He worked for the company from 1954 until the last day of 1980 when he retired. He was able to tune the top to “C” and the back to “D”. He actually tuned the tops and backs again after the braces were glued in place.Fuller did this with a small rubber mallet. He would carve wood off the top, back and bracing until he heard the right tone. He had to take the guitar apart and put it back together until he was satisfied.Production of the Kalamazoo Award lasted until 1984. 85 instruments were made and sold.
Description
| Brand: | Gibson | Dexterity: | Right-Handed |
| MPN: | Does Not Apply | Body Color: | Sunburst |
| Body Type: | Hollow | Body Material: | Acrylic, Solid Wood |
| Model: | Kalamazoo Award | Country of Manufacture: | USA |
| String Configuration: | 6 String | Style: | Archtop |
| UPC: | Does not apply |
Here we have one of the finest archtop guitars Gibson has ever built. The Kalamazoo Award was designed in the late 1970's. I'll post the story of its creation at the end of this listing. Suffice it to say, for now, that Gibson was so impressed with the original guitar that they dubbed the name "Kalamazoo Award" for the guitar.
This guitar comes from the estate of famed Jazz composer/arranger Robert Yelin. He was the sole owner of the guitar until he recently passed away. The guitar is accompanied by a letter from his wife detailing his ownership of the guitar.
This guitar comes from the estate of famed Jazz composer/arranger Robert Yelin. He was the sole owner of the guitar until he recently passed away. The guitar is accompanied by a letter from his wife detailing his ownership of the guitar.
The guitar features some impressive specs: extremely flamed maple body, matching flamed maple pickguard, abalone inlays, ebony fretboard, ebony bridge, ebony tailpiece insert, hand-engraved tuners, etc.
I am immediately drawn to the eagle-and-branch inlays when I look at this guitar. They are beautiful in a very intriguing way. This level of ornamentation is rarely found on any guitar. This is a top-level instrument similar to the famed "Gibson Citation." The original Kalamazoo Award was produced from 1978 to 1984, with only 85 instruments being produced. This one was built in 2000 as part of a very limited reissue.The guitar is near-mint condition. There are some light pick marks on the pickguard from the strumming of Robert Yelin. Aside from some very slight pitting of the gold hardware, the guitar is perfect.Included with the guitar is the original hardshell case, case candy, and letter of provenance from Harriet Yelin.Feel free to call me with any questions: 435.406.9281Story of the Kalamazoo Award's origin:In 1978, Gibson also offered a similar guitar {to the Gibson Citation}. It was designed by Gibson craftsman Wilbur Fuller and was totally hand-carved and “tuned-by-ear”. After building the first model, the company was so impressed they designated it the Kalamazoo Award guitar.
It too had a full-depth 17” archtop with a rounded cutaway, solid carved maple top, solid maple sides and carved maple back. It was topped with an ebony bridge with pearl inlays. The pickguard was made of matching wood and bound with abalone inlay. The f-holes were bound. The 5 piece maple neck was also bound, and topped with an ebony fretboard.The ebony headstock was bound on the top and a beautiful eagle and branch abalone inlay topped the guitar directly under the word Gibson, which was spelled out in abalone. The back of the ebony headstock featured a diamond shaped inlay done in beautiful abalone.Fuller was a true luthier that studied with old craftsmen. This was his dream guitar. He worked for the company from 1954 until the last day of 1980 when he retired. He was able to tune the top to “C” and the back to “D”. He actually tuned the tops and backs again after the braces were glued in place.
Fuller did this with a small rubber mallet. He would carve wood off the top, back and bracing until he heard the right tone. He had to take the guitar apart and put it back together until he was satisfied.Production of the Kalamazoo Award lasted until 1984. 85 instruments were made and sold.