1920s Regal-made Sterling 0-Size Flattop Guitar

Update November 2020: The owner of this is downsizing and this is now for sale -- so I've updated the photos and description as needed...

The headstock brand says Sterling, but this guitar was undoubtedly made by Regal as it has many of their usual design features on the inside of the box -- including transverse ladder bracing (with the main brace set at an angle). It's almost identical to an entry-level Washburn-branded Lyon & Healy guitar from the time save that the fretboard is ebonized maple rather than actual ebony and it has mahogany back/sides vs. rosewood.

The top is solid spruce while the back and sides are solid mahogany. The neck is Spanish cedar and the original bridge is ebony. It's had a rough-ish headstock break (and repair) in the past, but is otherwise fairly clean except for some finish alligatoring on the back and usual wear-and-tear marks. I'm pretty sure this was used exclusively as a Hawaiian-style guitar for many years as there's the usual wear-line from an extender nut on the fretboard and there's no endpin.

Repairs included: a neck reset, fret level/dress, fill/recut of both the saddle slot and pinholes at the bridge, a new bone saddle, minor crack cleating repairs, and a good setup. 

Setup notes: it's strung with 46w-10 which is as heavy as I'd go on this. It has a warmer, mellower tone than usual but still mostly suits fingerpicking rather than flatpicking. Action is bang-on at 3/32" EA and 1/16" DGBE at the 12th fret and the neck is straight.

Scale length: 24 5/16"

Nut width: 1 3/4"

String spacing at nut: 1 1/2"

String spacing at bridge: 2 5/16"

Body length: 18 1/8"

Lower bout width: 12 7/8"

Side depth at endpin: 3 5/8"

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: solid mahogany

Bracing type: ladder, transverse

Fretboard: ebonized maple

Bridge: ebony

Neck feel: medium V-shape, flat board

Neck wood: Spanish cedar (mahogany family)

Weight: 2 lb 7 oz

Condition notes: the center seam had dryness separation but I cleated it in the past -- good to go. There's the usual wear/tear throughout (nicks, scratches, etc.) but the finish is all original. Hardware is original, too, though I modified the bridge and the pins and saddle are new. Some of the tuner screws are replacements as well. The headstock has old repaired damage to one side of it but it's sturdy and has been stable in service. The finish is "blemmed" around it, though. The back of the guitar has finish that's a bit milkier/greyed.