Retrofret Stock # 6622. Stahl Model Flat Back, Bent Top Mandolin, made by Regal, c. 1920, made in Chicago, natural lacquer finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebonized fingerboard, original black chipboard case. This is quite a high-grade flat-backed mandolin, typical of the instruments built in Chicago in the 1910's and 1920's but definitely of better quality than most. The back and sides are Brazilian rosewood, with a fine-grained spruce top. The inlaid pickguard is pearl decorated, and there is double chain marquetry around the top and soundhole. There is a "Stahl" label visible on the back through the soundhole; while the Stahl operation did sell many mandolins of this type we are not convinced this is original to the instrument (Stahl labels are often found in Larson-made instrumentsγ_which this is not!). At any rate it does not detract from this very nice mandolin, which is a lovely instrument in its own right.Overall length is 24 5/8 in. (62.5 cm.), 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm.) width, and 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.). Extremely clean overall; there is hardly any finish wear or fade, and even the original plating looks nearly new. There are several re-sealed back cracks and the back only has been overfinished with a French polish touch up. This is a very good-sounding mandolin, one of the nicer flat backs we have had and is amazingly well preserved for its age. Overall Excellent Condition.
