1930 Kel Kroydon (by Gibson) KK-1 Natural

FON: 2396. Friends, the Kel Kroydon brand is something of a Gibson-made oddity that has achieved legendary status long after production ceased. The KK guitar line was made in small numbers from 1929 and into 1931. The aesthetic is pure Gibson and this 00-sized guitar was built alongside the equally legendary (and short-lived) L-2 and the 14” L-1 which evolved into the L-0 and L-00 made into the 1940s. But the Kel Kroyden line served a different purpose: Gibson accessed a lower priced market with a guitar that was stripped down to bare essentials and priced accordingly. Though the label touts the KK-1 as “for professionals” it must have been quite the opposite; for students and wannabees. Gibson salesmen were selling a line of Kel Kroyden wooden toys alongside the guitars and banjos. It was a likely a strategy to keep the Gibson artisans and salespeople employed in the Great Depression. And keep the company afloat.

The guitars are so lightly built it’s stunning any survived. Unlike the other bargain brands Kalamazoo and Carson Robison, these are X-braced with tone bars. But the braces are like none you’ll ever see anywhere else -- tiny. The back braces are about the thickness of steak knives. The frets are similar to mandolin fret wire. There is no patented Gibson adjustable truss rod. The top is bound in white plastic with no trim. The rosette is a very simple B/W/B plastic ply. The tops are built thin but some of the nicest Adi you’ll see. Back and sides are mahogany. Fret boards are about half as thick as normal. Nut is ebony. Bridges are small BRW rectangles. Logo is stenciled on a painted face plate. They are the lightest full sized guitar you will play and very responsive as a result.

This one is in quite nice condition. The top is still very bright and fresh looking with nice grain and silking. There’s one hairline running from the bridge to the binding that is tightly sealed. Around the east side of the sound hole there’s some pick marks and a overall a few case bites and scratches. The back and sides are clean and crack free. The neck is clean except for one small mark around the 6th fret, probably from a stand. The face plate has a scratch but it missed all the letters.

Some restoration work was undertaken on my first watch. The neck was reset and mostly refretted. The fret wire was milled to match the original. The bridge is a replacement of the same dimensions – the color matches the fret board. Braces were reglued. There’s a little crowning in the top but no distortion per se. The bridge is sitting at the correct angle. Overall geometry is good. The work was completed by Gibson expert Mike Lennon. Current owner had some additional setup work by Mark Tossman, our local wizard.

The guitar is very responsive. The signature tone is clarity and note separation with the classic Gibson midrange with perhaps a stronger bass than an L-00. It’s really a great finger picker and does best with a lighter touch with a pick. That said, there’s more headroom than expected from a guitar this size. It is set up with 11’s and if you absolutely require something heavier probably best to look elsewhere but it’s a great little add to any vintage collection.

Ships with a good fitting newer 00-sized TLK hard case.

Top: Adirondack Spruce
Band & Sides: Honduran Mahogany
Bridge & Fretboard: Rosewood
Appointments: Dot position markers, top binding, b/w/b rosette
Nut width: 1-11/16”
String spacing: 2-3/8”
Body width: 14-7/8”
Depth: 4-5/16”
Scale length: 24.5”
Case: HSC