Regal Concert Size c 1925 | SOLD | (v2343) Regal, with factories in Chicago, was one of the largest guitar manufacturers in America through the first half of the twentieth century. Probalby produced by the millions, not many have survived with the Regal label. A good number have surfaced with proprietary labels, but it's very likely that most Regal factory production was sold without any label at all. These unlabeled guitars were sold by jobbers to retail stores. This example fits this latter catagory of Regal production. Our guess is that a jobber had a batch of these made at some point in the 1920s, since we've had an identical guitar to this a few years ago. Our Regal attribution is based on construction, appointments and materials that we've seen in Regal-branded guitars. We theorize that this guitar is a ladder-braced (i.e. cheaper) version of Regal's 'Custom' line of instruments made in the 1920s to compete directly with Martin guitars.
Tha back and sides are a fine grade of straight-grained rosewood. The back is bound with white celluloid and features an inlaid purfling strip at the center seam. The top is spruce, bound in white celluloid with both the edge and sound hole trimmed in abalone and b/w marquetry. The neck is mahogany, carved in a typical 'V' and is bound in white celluloid. The fingerboard in ebonized maple and features a trailing vine inlay and several pearl dots. The head stock is bound in white celluloid and overlaid with rosewood veneer that sports several pearl inlays. The tuners are three-on-a-strip and engraved with a fleur-de-lis pattern, also found on the Regal Custom line of guitars. The bridge is rosewood.
The lower bout measures 13 1/2" across. Scale length is 24 3/4". The fingerboard measures 1 3/4" across at the nut and string spacing is 2 1/4" across at the saddle.
Through its history the guitar has had the following repairs: It appears that the neck was reset; a number of cracks were glued and cleated on both the top and the back; the straight saddle slot was filled and recut for intonation; the bridge plate was replaced. We recently cleated some of the top cracks; cleaned up the frets; cleaned and lubed the tuners. There are various nicks and dings, and some of the top cracks are not entirely flat but all braces appear glued tight. The fingerboard shows deep divots in the first position. The action is set at ~ 6/64".
The guitar plays very well and the spruce over rosewood produces a really strong mid-range tone with great bass 'thump' against the chest. A fantastic fingerpicking guitar,
Comes with a soft case.
Tha back and sides are a fine grade of straight-grained rosewood. The back is bound with white celluloid and features an inlaid purfling strip at the center seam. The top is spruce, bound in white celluloid with both the edge and sound hole trimmed in abalone and b/w marquetry. The neck is mahogany, carved in a typical 'V' and is bound in white celluloid. The fingerboard in ebonized maple and features a trailing vine inlay and several pearl dots. The head stock is bound in white celluloid and overlaid with rosewood veneer that sports several pearl inlays. The tuners are three-on-a-strip and engraved with a fleur-de-lis pattern, also found on the Regal Custom line of guitars. The bridge is rosewood.
The lower bout measures 13 1/2" across. Scale length is 24 3/4". The fingerboard measures 1 3/4" across at the nut and string spacing is 2 1/4" across at the saddle.
Through its history the guitar has had the following repairs: It appears that the neck was reset; a number of cracks were glued and cleated on both the top and the back; the straight saddle slot was filled and recut for intonation; the bridge plate was replaced. We recently cleated some of the top cracks; cleaned up the frets; cleaned and lubed the tuners. There are various nicks and dings, and some of the top cracks are not entirely flat but all braces appear glued tight. The fingerboard shows deep divots in the first position. The action is set at ~ 6/64".
The guitar plays very well and the spruce over rosewood produces a really strong mid-range tone with great bass 'thump' against the chest. A fantastic fingerpicking guitar,
Comes with a soft case.