1920s Regal Size 5 Fancy Spruce/Mahogany Tenor Guitar

Overview: This isn't the fanciest version of the "normal Regal tenor guitar" that I've seen but it's one step under the fanciest (which featured rosewood back and sides). It has a solid spruce top over figured solid Cuban mahogany back and sides, a mahogany neck, and factory-original geared tuners -- all steep upgrades compared to the typical spruce-over-birch, mass-market model that's most-often seen.

Tone: It's full, warm, and sweet-sounding with good punch and volume. Because of that, I've strung it in the popular GDAE octave mandolin tuning to make use of the extended low end (for its size).

Feel: The neck is quick but very traditional (medium-ish depth and a flat board) but has more width side to side than Gibson or Martin tenors of the same period, so folks who get tied-up on narrow-necked tenor banjos and tenor guitars will like the spread.

Interesting features: It has a ton of great multicolored purfling on the top edges and at the soundhole, a similarly-nice backstrip, and multi-ply binding. It's also got a recessed, flush-fit original pickguard. The tuners, as mentioned, are a nice upgrade compared to the usual friction pegs these normally came with. It no longer has the original downpressure-style banjo tailpiece but it's otherwise mostly original.

Repairs included: It got a level/dress of the frets and a setup. I'd adjusted it for the owner previously but this time around we got it dialed-in nicely. I think either I or Jose did the work -- and it's playing spot-on and ready to go. If desired, we could restring it and set it up for whatever tuning the next owner wants.

• Weight: 1 lb 12 oz
• Scale length: 21"
• Nut width: 1 1/4"
• Neck shape: medium V
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 10 1/2"
• Body depth: 3 1/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid Cuban mahogany (figured)
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: rosewood with ebony insert
• Fretboard: ebonized maple
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 40w, 30w, 20w, 12
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium/lower

Condition notes: The nut (metal) is a replacement. I think the bridge is a replacement but it's nice-quality. The tailpiece and strap button at the tailpiece are replacements. The finish itself shows fine weather-checking here and there throughout and various light scratches and scuffs here and there but it looks good overall. There's one small repaired hairline crack on the top-lower-bout but I am not finding any others. The side dots are added.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: SSAL