1930s MayBell College Pal (Regal) Parlor Guitar

Overview: I've worked on a bunch of these old MayBell-branded guitars. This one is the "College Pal" model and was made by Regal in Chicago for the firm. Like other lower-rung Regal parlors from the time, it has ladder-bracing with an angled main brace that gives it a warmer, fuller sound than other similar guitars made by Kay or Harmony -- their main competitors. I like it a lot of fingerpicking in folksy styles.

Tone: It's mis-centric and woody but has a nice, warm, mellow sound with just enough sparkle on top to keep you interested. It's not a great guitar to whump on, though if you're a more easygoing flatpicker (medium/lighter picks), you will have fun with it, for sure.

Feel: The neck is a bigger C shape and it has a flat fretboard and wider, 1 3/4" nut width -- so it's not for everyone.

Interesting features: The sunburst, stenciled-on soundhole and faux binding, and overall kitschy looks are to be enjoyed. Unusually for a "parlor" guitar of the period, it has a solid-style headstock which makes it a bit easier to string-up.

Repairs included: We'd worked on this a while back and it got a neck reset, new bridge, fret level/dress, new saddle, new pins, and setup work done. It's playing spot-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 3 lbs 1 oz
• Scale length: 24"
• Nut width: 1 3/4"
• Neck shape: medium-full C
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 13 1/8"
• Body depth: 4"
• Top wood: solid birch
• Back & sides wood: solid birch
• Bracing type: ladder (transverse main)
• Bridge: rosewood replacement
• Fretboard: ebonized maple
• Neck wood: poplar
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 46w-10 extra lights
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: lower/smaller

Condition notes: The bridge is replaced and the pins and saddle are replacements, too. It has an area just below the bridge that I touched-up with paint as an oversize bridge had been on the guitar before. It's almost invisible unless you're looking for it. There are small scuffs, scrapes, scratches, and usewear throughout the body but overall it looks nice. I haven't found any cracks

It comes with: I'm not sure that it has a case, but if it does, it's a chip case.

Consignor tag: MMKN