1930s National Institute of Allied Arts Tailpiece Parlor Guitar

Overview: I see guitars like this one come in the shop every year and I always have a hard time placing the maker exactly. They have a Regal-style heel and body shape, a Schmidt-style scale and pickguard, and a headstock and general styling that reminds me of Richter. Because the top kerfing is triangular and because of that heel shape, though, I've been mostly thinking these are Regal-made in Chicago.

Whatever the builder, this label/branding appears on a variety of guitars from the time and almost all of them are student-level, no-frills affairs. This one certainly is! Its closest comparison would be a Harmony Stella from the late '30s through the early '70s -- simple and ladder-braced, solid birch in the body, slightly smaller than 0-size, and with a woody, bluesy voice. This one is a fair bit warmer and louder than your average Harmony Stella model, though, but handles roughly the same with its short scale, chunky neck, flat board, and 1 3/4" nut width.

Repairs included: Jose reset the neck, leveled and dressed the frets, repaired some loose bracing, added side dots, made a new bridge for it from scratch, cleaned it up, and set it up. It's playing spot-on and ready to serve.

• Weight: 3 lbs 6 oz
• Scale length: 24 3/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/4"
• Neck shape: big V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: .96"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1.13"
• Body width: 13 1/4"
• Body depth: 3 5/8"
• Top wood: soldi birch
• Back & sides wood: solid birch
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: ebonized maple or similar
• Neck wood: poplar
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 54w-12 lights
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium/narrow and lower

Condition notes: It's completely original except for the bridge. It appears to be crack-free, too. There's a bit of finish checking here and there. There are light scratches and scuffs here and there throughout as well. 

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: BIRD