c.1945 Regal 15" Tenor Guitar


This is a customer's 1940s Regal tenor guitar. Unlike earlier models, this one is like a ladder braced Martin 0-18T design (similarly foreshortened body) -- but with a super wide 15" lower bout. Coupled with a 23 1/8" scale this gives the guitar a loud, sweet, punchy, and very big tonality with good sustain.

My work included a neck reset, back seam reglue, bridge reglue, new bone saddle, fret level/dress, cleaning, and full setup. It plays like a dream with a comfortably wider-than-normal (for a tenor) neck.


The top is solid spruce and shows pickwear on the upper bout. The back, sides, and neck are all solid mahogany and the bridge and fretboard are rosewood. The nut and saddle are bone. The only unoriginal bits to this fella are the bridge pins (old white ones from my parts bin) and saddle.


Rosewood-veneered headstock with cool Regal logo as well.



Nice pearl inlay on the board. This is more reminiscent of 1920s and 30s Regals than it is 40s ones.


Yes, the screws in the bridge wings are original.



There's pretty mahogany all over this thing! Note that both the top and back are bound.


Great old tuners. Buttons are shrunken a bit, though.







Also, this has a curious original screwed-in strap button.

Comments

Joe Jordan said…
I now own this instrument. It is great fun to play.