1930s Regal Mahogany-Top Roundhole Archtop Guitar

Overview: My buddy Michael got a bit obsessed with the spruce-over-mahogany version of this guitar that's in the shop right now and picked-up this mahogany-over-mahogany one. This one's particularly clean and arrived with a good neck angle and only "glorified setup" and persnickety work to do. Post-repairs it plays great, has a woody and warm sound, and looks like a stunner.


Tone: It's woody, open, warm, and chunky -- very much "archtop-y" but with some more of that flattop sound thrown-in.


Feel: The neck's a big old V shape and it has a flattish fretboard -- typical Regal for the time. We joke that this is a "grown man's guitar" neck shape.


Interesting features: Well, the understated, Martin-style trim is elegant as all heck. It has an x-braced, carved top, too, and the finish is all original and looks great. Ancel went to pains fitting a new rosewood adjustable bridge, '40s Kluson tuners from my parts-bins to replace some nasty Ping-style tuners that were on it, and reworking the replacement tailpiece to have an Epiphone-like trapeze bar.


Repairs included: Ancel gave it a level/dress of the frets, new bridge, new tailpiece trapeze, fit new tuners, cleaned it up, and set it all up. It plays spot-on and is ready to go.

  • Weight: 3 lbs 3 oz
  • Scale length: 25 1/8"
  • Nut width: 1 7/8"
  • Neck shape: medium-big V
  • Board radius: 20"
  • Body width: 15 1/4"
  • Body depth: 4 1/8"
  • Top wood: solid mahogany
  • Back & sides wood: solid mahogany
  • Bracing type: x
  • Bridge: replacement rosewood adjustable
  • Fretboard: ebony
  • Neck wood: mahogany
  • Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
  • String gauges: 54w-12 lights
  • Neck relief: straight
  • Fret style: bar/medium-narrow

Condition notes: It has mild scratches and scuffs here and there in the finish but overall it's quite clean. The nut, bridge, tailpiece, and tuners are replacements but it's otherwise original throughout.


It comes with: Sorry, no case.


Consignor tag: MMK





















Comments

Tom Mardas said…
Wow, I have never seen a mahogany top one! I've owned two of these big great sounding Regals and both were spruce topped. Amazingly built well with the layered necks keeping them straight. The custom shop sold these for $125 dollars back in 1935. Not an inexpensive guitar lol. I miss mine. Will this one be for sale? thanks, tom
Michael Mulkern said…
Hi Tom, I'm the same Michael mentioned in Jake's blog. I decided to purchase another guitar so this one is up for grabs.
Tom Mardas said…

Thanks Michael? I didnt see her on the acoustic guitar list for sale, how much are you asking? thanks, tom
Michael Mulkern said…
Hi Tom, I'm not sure of it's still available so please check w/JW. $1500.