1930s Regal (Dobro-cone) 8-String Resonator Tenor Guitar (Octave Mandolin)

Overview: This is the only one of these I've seen -- an 8-string, resonator tenor guitar from the '30s. It's Regal-made, unmarked, and has the usual Regal-made resonator tenor guitar body. The neck is more like a latter-era Octofone neck, though, in that it's 8-string, shorter scale (for when it was made), and bulkier than your average Regal tenor guitar neck from the time. This neck is fit like a Dobro's -- with a short dowel coming from the neck joint which allows for fine-tuning of the neck angle by shimming-up the dowel inside the body.

Good work was done on this by a different repairman and it arrived completely ready to hit the sales floor. That is extraordinarily rare around here. Good job! It plays like a dang champ and has a full, rich, slightly-burred, Dobro tonality that's made all the much better by its octave mandolin stringing. Keep in mind, however, that this was likely strung-up for CGDA tuning when it was made and I'll bet it would be even punchier and more forceful with that.

Repairs included: Presumably, it got a neck reset. It also got a refret at some point, better tuners (StewMac repros) installed, and compensated saddles fit to the spider bridge. The nut looks newer, too. It's playing bang-on-the-dot and ready to serve.

• Weight: 4 lbs 12 oz
• Scale length: 21"
• Nut width: 1 5/16"
• Neck shape: big soft V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 29/32"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1 1/16"
• Body width: 13 5/8"
• Body depth: 3 1/2"
• Body: ply birch
• Cone type: dobro
• Bridge: spider
• Fretboard: likely ebonized maple
• Neck wood: likely poplar
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 46w-12
• Truss rod: non-adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium/narrow modern

Condition notes: It's original throughout except for an added strap button at the heel, newer frets, newer saddles, and newer tuners. There's a little wear to the painted, faux-binding here and there. The edges are also a little worn at the f-holes. Overall, though, it's in superb shape for its age.

It comes with: It has an excellent newer hard case.

Consignor tag: HKNS