1930s Regal-Made Dobro Resonator Mandolin

Overview: These old resonator mandolins usually have a Dobro brand at the headstock, though all of them were made by Regal in Chicago and then equipped with small-size Dobro resonator cones and spider-bridges. This one happens to have a replacement, Beard-made cone as the original was likely damaged at some point. Post-repairs it's got a sweet, sustained, clean sound that definitely does something different from a normal mandolin but isn't so far into the banjo-twang as a National-style resonator mando.

Repairs included: Molly gave it a level/dress of the fret, suffered through cone-seating and adjustments, and set it up. It's playing bang-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 2 lbs 7 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/16"
• Neck shape: medium V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 0.84"
• Depth at seventh fret: 0.98"
• Body width: 11"
• Body depth: 2 1/2"
• Body: ply mahogany
• Cone type: Dobro-style
• Bridge: aluminum spider w/bone saddles
• Fretboard: ebonized maple
• Neck wood: poplar
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 34w-10
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: narrow/smaller

Condition notes: The bodies on these guys tend to distort a bit with age and that's true of this one, too, where the sidewall/endblock area has shifted a bit (it leans at the tailpiece) as it's settled-in. There are also various scratches and scuffs in the finish all over and it appears to me that the finish may have been oversprayed at least in some areas. As noted, the cone is a replacement and the bone saddles (compensated) are as well. The fretboard has some wear and tear to its finish and there are a bunch of scratches on the headstock's front face.

It comes with: It has some sort of functional case.

Consignor tag: HKNS