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***Rare Vintage Regal Resonator Mandolin Circa. 1930's- Vintage Suburst with OHSC***
***Ships securely worldwide via FedEx- with delivery within 5-7 days and all Customs fees/ Import duties covered/ paid for in the shipping cost***
***Please carefully consult our terms of sale at the bottom of the listing description***
An increasingly hard to come by resonator mandolin of fine quality and in highly original condition- made by the Regal company in Chicago during the 1930's.
Featuring a standard of construction that was prevalent prior to World War II- this resonator mandolin showcases the old-world craftsmanship of Regal- as well as the closely associated Dobro company.
In terms of design, this instrument incorporates the familiar tone and playability of traditional mandolins- with the enhanced power and tonal projection of resonator guitars. The resultant sound of this particular example, is full, warm and present with ample sustain and projection even in larger spaces.
Cosmetically, the mandolin displays signs of wear and tear commensurate with the age- with areas of mild/ moderate imperfection visible across the whole body of the instrument. These imperfections include light to moderate dents, scratches and chips visible on the top and back of the mandolin- as pictured.
The sides and lower rim near the tailpiece attachment also show signs of moderate chips and scratches as pictured, with a more notable cluster of scratches/indentations found adjacent to the tailpiece attachment- as displayed in the photos.
The neck shows signs of heavier play wear accumulated over the decades, resulting in the black finish being worn away to reveal a lighter undercoat beneath. This wear however is mostly cosmetic in nature, with the overall feel of the neck being smooth and comfortable- with only small areas of rougher texture felt in playing.
A number of small indentations are visible on the headstock, and the original Regal decal is slightly crazed from age. The text printed thereupon- is still legible however; reading "Regal- Made in Chicago".
Despite these imperfections in cosmetics- the original Sunburst finish still possesses a deep shine and also exhibits beautiful checking patterns throughout the whole mandolin body. The metalware is also in a respectable state overall- having been polished to a high shine. There are areas of light surface scratches and indentations visible however- and the tailpiece shows a patch where the chroming has worn off to reveal the copper-colored metal beneath.
Functionally- the mandolin is entirely original and there are no past repairs evident throughout. The neck is straight, the bridge is finely adjustable, the original nut is in tact- and the frets still have good life in them with Approx. 80% original material remaining.
The original open-gear tuners still function well for their age- providing good stability through prolonged periods of playing. None of these tuners feel loose when adjusted- and will not require replacement for many years.
Features a Rosewood fingerboard, with mild signs of play-wear present.
The entire diaphragm system located beneath the metal cover plate- is fully functional and still works well as an amplifier of the mandolins raw acoustic tone.
Currently, the action is setup with heights of 2.6mm and 2.9mm- both measured at the 12 fret for low G and high E respectively. While the neck is straight- there is a degree of relief present that could benefit from being addressed by a professional luthier. There is also a degree of "Drop-off" present in the fingerboard- which is slightly greater than is ideal.
Likewise, the intonation of the mandolin could benefit from refinement by a professional luthier as well.
Recently carefully cleaned and freshly restrung with a new set of D'Addario EJ-62's- the mandolin is playable in its current state and has a full, present and captivating vintage tone.
Comes with the original hard shell case in fine condition overall, with some signs of wear and tear visible on the exterior. The inner- lining is however in good shape, and the mandolin fits very securely into it's case in transit.
in summary, a rare and unique piece of resonator mandolin history with ample vintage character both visually and tonally- well suited to Bluegrass and other related styles.
***What Music They Make Sales/Purchase Terms***
Please kindly read the following terms of sale that apply to all purchases through our store.
***All items listed are sold "As-Is"/ "As-Seen" per the photos- The buyer agrees to purchase the listed item on the basis of all that is immediately/ or not immediately apparent from the listing photos***
***Please consult the listing photos closely as they form the basis of the sale of all items. Only that which is shown in the listing photos is included in the sale***
***Listing descriptions are supplementary to the listing photos- and as such please consult the photos as the basis of all sales***
***All items are packaged thoroughly and carefully to protect in transit through FedEx shipping worldwide***
***Returns/ Full Refunds only- offered only on items received damaged in transit- as shown through photographic/ video evidence of the initial opening of the item***
***In this event- please contact us within 48 hours of delivery of your purchase. We will cover the cost of return shipping and the item must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and no signs of use***
***A 15% re-stocking fee applies to all returned items- and full refunds are issued only upon receiving the item back to us in our shop. The 15% re-stocking fee is deducted from the total cost of the original purchase, excluding shipping/sales taxes***
Thank you for your understanding and support of our business.
Regards,
What Music They Make.
