1920s Regal Spruce/Mahogany Size 5 Tenor Guitar

Overview: Regal tenor guitars just like this were the first commercially viable tenor guitar available and were sold like hotcakes in the early '20s. This one is probably a mid-'20s instrument and features figured mahogany for the back and sides which is rare for these tenors. Most were the spruce over birch model or the lower-end all-birch model. This mahogany version was an upgrade that most folks didn't pay for.

Tone: It's loud, forward, snappy, and woody with a nice, rich, upper-mids thing going on. I think of these as "gypsy-jazz-sounding" guitars. They punch and excel at lead or melody work.

Feel: It's got a typical medium-V neck shape and a flat fretboard. It's quick and easy.

Interesting features: The mahogany on this one is nice and curly/flamed throughout. It's also been played-in like crazy and has all sorts of "loving care" evidenced throughout. The binding on these is fiberloid and Regal rounded the edges over more than you see on most modern guitars which is a nice effect.

Repairs included: It's had a fret level/dress, side dots added, new bridge, replacement tailpiece added, new geared guitar-style tuners added, a strap button added at the endblock, cleaning, and setup work. The center seam on the top was filled/reglued in the past. It's playing spot-on and is ready to go. I also added a hidden internal neck bolt reinforcement -- the angle was good when it arrived but I don't trust neck joints I have not had to open up for instruments this old.

• Weight: 1 lb 10 oz
• Scale length: 20 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/4"
• Neck shape: medium V
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 10 3/8"
• Body depth: 3 1/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid mahogany
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: banjo-style maple/ebony
• Fretboard: ebonized maple
• Neck wood: poplar
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 32w, 20w, 13, 9 for CGDA tuning
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: narrow/medium/rectangular base

Condition notes: It shows a lot of playwear throughout via scratches, scuffs, and small nicks and dings here and there in the finish. There's a repaired center seam separation on the top. The tuners and bridge are modern replacements. The tailpiece is an old one.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: JW