Kalamazoo KG-14 question

[rogthefrog]

Y'all, I have a '37 Kalamazoo KG-14 and I'm wondering what strings other owners put on theirs. I had .013s on tuned down one step and it was OK, but a little box like that isn't at its best that low. So the next obvious step is .011s or .012s at concert pitch, but I don't know if this fragile little thing can handle it.

What gauges, alloys and tunings do other owners use?

[Eldergreene]

Hi, I have a '33 L1 strung with DR Sunbeams 11 - 50 gauge - they're round-core, pretty low tension, & sound good; I also have a mid-thirties OS Stella which is fairly delicate, & that one I string with Newtone Heritage low-tension 12 - 51, very light but still a good sound.

[tpbiii]

We use Martin bulk 80/20s 12s. I am a big fan of 80/20s on guitars with mahogany B&S. It is true that the ladder bracing on the KG-14 is a bit more subject to top distortion than the x-braced L-00s, etc.

Let's pick,

-Tom

[Jim Owen]

Hi Rogthefrog,
Never had trouble with lights (12s). Have you tried the magnet test to see if you've got a truss rod?

[Teleman52]

Originally Posted by Jim Owen

Hi Rogthefrog,
Never had trouble with lights (12s). Have you tried the magnet test to see if you've got a truss rod?

many KG-14s have an adjustable truss rod that can only be adjusted by removing the fretboard. Very practical huh? My guess is that they didnt want ameteur "guitar techs" messing with them.

So it would be a good idea to check and see if you have a truss rod.

If i had this guitar, i would put custom lights 11s on it regardless. I love the sound of custom lights for fingerstyle blues, and thats what i have on my lg2. I think mediums probably are too much, and choke the top

[Toby Walker]

I have a '36 KG-14 without a truss rod... just a beefy neck. Always used 12's on it tuned to concert without any problem. Same goes with my '36 KG-11.

[zombywoof]

Never even laid eyes on a Kalamazoo KG-14 that had a reinforced neck. Like Toby I strung mine with 12s. DR Sunbeams are wound on a round core which extert less tension than those wound on a hex core.

[rogthefrog]

I'll check for a truss rod. I didn't know some had them!

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll experiment. Sounds like .012s shouldn't hurt.

[Teleman52]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

Never even laid eyes on a Kalamazoo KG-14 that had a reinforced neck. Like Toby I strung mine with 12s. DR Sunbeams are wound on a round core which extert less tension than those wound on a hex core.

There are some, when i said many, that was an overstatement. But some built in the late 30s, early 40s had adjustable truss rods but with no access to the adjustment without taking off the fretboard

[arie]

Originally Posted by rogthefrog

Y'all, I have a '37 Kalamazoo KG-14 and I'm wondering what strings other owners put on theirs. I had .013s on tuned down one step and it was OK, but a little box like that isn't at its best that low. So the next obvious step is .011s or .012s at concert pitch, but I don't know if this fragile little thing can handle it.

What gauges, alloys and tunings do other owners use?

36' KG-14 , .010-.046 black diamonds, tuned down one whole step.