Post by Rich on Jan 30, 2008 20:23:45 GMT -6
This is a pretty obscure model, developed for the Southern Rock players... I didn't know that when I bought mine in 1979. There weren't any big box guitar stores around at that time, and Gibsons weren't that plentiful. I think there were 2500 of these made, with varying QC issues. I've run across only two of these (other than mine) and neither of the others came close to the one I bought.
I went to every store I could find that carried Gibson electrics, and each store only had a few of them. After playing maybe 25 LP Customs and Standards, I found the KM Model. It was in a locked glass display case, brand new, and I had to show the store owner money before he would allow me to play it. Once in my hands, I knew this was the guitar for me.
It is different from a regular LP in many ways, yet had the qualities I was looking for in a pro level guitar. Plus it was beautiful. ;D
The main differences were not known to me at the time, but the biggest difference I felt was the absolute rock solid stability of the neck. It was painted (cherry sunburst on the back) and bound. I played it for years, and wore through the finish with my thumb. I knew it was laminated, but woods didn't carry the relevance then like they do today. It's a three piece maple neck.
The pickups were different from other LPs, in that they were cream bobbin T-top Gibson pickups. These were discontinued after Gibson lost a lawsuit (DiMarzio won, and that was that). Rockin' sound, and they clean up beautifully when rolled back a bit. After many years, I opened up the cavities for a look inside, and was delighted (amazed, actually) to find the control cavity and switch cavity had metal boxes with metal covers inside, for full shielding. I was equally surprised to find a cold solder joint on the switch enclosure- obviously a factory defect. Luckily, the switch itself was self grounding- I still haven't figured out why they ran a separate ground wire to the switch box... I soldered it anyway. I never noticed any difference.
The body is mahogany with a carved maple top. The weight is a hefty 13 lbs. It has never bothered me that is is so heavy, as I bought an extra wide soft leather strap-and I'm still using the strap to this day. It sports MOP trapezoid face markers and Grover tuners. Early examples (like mine) have a plastic plate engraved with "Custom Made" behind the stop tail. Later ones didn't have this plate. The body is top bound, with cherry sunburst on the face, a more subdued burst on the back, and bursts on the sides as well as the back of the neck. The fingerboard is bound, but not the headstock The Gibson logo is inlaid MOP.
This was one of the last LPs produced in the Kalamazoo, Michigan factory, on the old machines, by the old craftsmen. (Thus the model "KM") The rest of the appointments are basically the same as a Standard. It came in a Gibson "The Protector" hard rubber case, which is pretty much bulletproof.. One of my favorite cases of all time. It has served its purpose well, fallen out of vans, into snowbanks, and held together. I bought another LP since then, and found (bought) another "Protector" case for the second 'Paul.
The only mod I made was to replace the original pickguard (which is cream colored plastic) with a chrome guard. I did this within the first week, and have kept the original guard in the case ever since. I also removed the plastic circle from the pickup selector switch, as I think those are unnecessary, and unsightly on this instrument. Otherwise, the pickups have never been removed, and the electronics are original and intact.
This has been a wonderful instrument- dependable, attractive, comfortable, and versatile. If you spot one, be sure to check it out.
I went to every store I could find that carried Gibson electrics, and each store only had a few of them. After playing maybe 25 LP Customs and Standards, I found the KM Model. It was in a locked glass display case, brand new, and I had to show the store owner money before he would allow me to play it. Once in my hands, I knew this was the guitar for me.
It is different from a regular LP in many ways, yet had the qualities I was looking for in a pro level guitar. Plus it was beautiful. ;D
The main differences were not known to me at the time, but the biggest difference I felt was the absolute rock solid stability of the neck. It was painted (cherry sunburst on the back) and bound. I played it for years, and wore through the finish with my thumb. I knew it was laminated, but woods didn't carry the relevance then like they do today. It's a three piece maple neck.
The pickups were different from other LPs, in that they were cream bobbin T-top Gibson pickups. These were discontinued after Gibson lost a lawsuit (DiMarzio won, and that was that). Rockin' sound, and they clean up beautifully when rolled back a bit. After many years, I opened up the cavities for a look inside, and was delighted (amazed, actually) to find the control cavity and switch cavity had metal boxes with metal covers inside, for full shielding. I was equally surprised to find a cold solder joint on the switch enclosure- obviously a factory defect. Luckily, the switch itself was self grounding- I still haven't figured out why they ran a separate ground wire to the switch box... I soldered it anyway. I never noticed any difference.
The body is mahogany with a carved maple top. The weight is a hefty 13 lbs. It has never bothered me that is is so heavy, as I bought an extra wide soft leather strap-and I'm still using the strap to this day. It sports MOP trapezoid face markers and Grover tuners. Early examples (like mine) have a plastic plate engraved with "Custom Made" behind the stop tail. Later ones didn't have this plate. The body is top bound, with cherry sunburst on the face, a more subdued burst on the back, and bursts on the sides as well as the back of the neck. The fingerboard is bound, but not the headstock The Gibson logo is inlaid MOP.
This was one of the last LPs produced in the Kalamazoo, Michigan factory, on the old machines, by the old craftsmen. (Thus the model "KM") The rest of the appointments are basically the same as a Standard. It came in a Gibson "The Protector" hard rubber case, which is pretty much bulletproof.. One of my favorite cases of all time. It has served its purpose well, fallen out of vans, into snowbanks, and held together. I bought another LP since then, and found (bought) another "Protector" case for the second 'Paul.
The only mod I made was to replace the original pickguard (which is cream colored plastic) with a chrome guard. I did this within the first week, and have kept the original guard in the case ever since. I also removed the plastic circle from the pickup selector switch, as I think those are unnecessary, and unsightly on this instrument. Otherwise, the pickups have never been removed, and the electronics are original and intact.
This has been a wonderful instrument- dependable, attractive, comfortable, and versatile. If you spot one, be sure to check it out.
