Regal resonator

[toremainn]

Hi Michael,

have you got any info on this Regal resonator (row pattern) ? I know it's
late 30s to 40. Just bought it on eBay.

Tore

[Mark Makin]

Hello Tore
I was watching this one myself to see what it went for!. You got a good deal - it equates to around £444 UK.
These Dobros (Regals) were made around 1939. They were student models and were sometimes known as Model 5s or Model 6s.
More usually, this body type was fitted with small (8") National cones and they are often seen with 'diamond' shaped coverplates, or 'fiddle mute' coverplates.
The one you have - apart from being a Dobro - has the rarer 'UFO holes' coverplate. This plate was nearly always reserved for the Regal-made metal bodied fiddle edge nickel guitars with the five barred f-holes.
Incidentally, I'm not sure if the tailpiece (Harmony type) was actually factory-fitted. I have seen them before on these instruments but they are not a standard National/Dobro part.
Best
Mark

[Michael Messer]

Hi Toremainn,

That is a lovely guitar. Mark has given you all the information about it, great stuff. Enjoy!

Shine On
Michael

[slidenpickit]

My 30s Regal Dobro has the same tailpiece. Is it possible that Regal also produced Harmony guitars around that era so might have just fitted anything that was available in the parts bin, to what after all, were cheaply constructed guitars?

When I investigated mine, there was no evidence of any other tailpiece having been fitted.

Chris W

[Mark Makin]

Hello Chris
Regal and Harmony were competitors at this time - although Regal WAS eventually sold to the Harmony company - but only in 1954!.
I suspect the connection or overlap occurs in the mutual relationship of Gibson, Regal, Harmony, National Dobro, Kay, Gretsch and others brought about by the CMI (Chicago Musical Instruments) "combined operations" policy at this time in Chicago.

It is this policy that causes some Nationals to have Harmony or Kay bodies, some Dobros to be branded as Gretschs and Nationals to have bodies made by Gibson through the late 1940s!

Your idea of a "mutual parts bin" might easily have some credence!

[toremainn]

Great. Thanks for the input guys.

[slidenpickit]

Thanks Mark,

That makes complete sense. I would think that at their peak of popularity these were being knocked these out at a tremendous rate with models to suit most pockets.

Regards

Chris

[toremainn]

Found this on vintageguitar.com:

Regal mixed and matched hardware freely on all its Dobro guitars, apparently using whatever tailpieces or coverplates were handy at the time.
In 1939 Regal revised its prices and changed the Dobro line once again. The blond Model 5, with a mandolin resonator, joined the Model 6 in the bargain basement.

Tore

[slidenpickit]

That's really interesting.

[toremainn]

Here's the story:

www.vintageguitar.com/features/brands/details.asp?AID=1086

slide on
Tore

[slidenpickit]

Thanks Tore,

I enjoyed reading the article very much.

[toremainn]

Hi,

got the Regal yesterday. Beautiful guitar with few dings and scratches.
However, warped neck....only playable as a lap steel, but great sound.
Have to fix this 70year old.

And the cone wasn't mandolin-size...Regal/Dobro-parts are mixed a lot in this period.
Happy new year.

Tore

[toremainn]

Just got it confirmed by George Gruhn, this is:

No model number: maple body,some with spruce top,3-segment f-holes in upper bouts,
black binding on top and back,12 frets clear of body, ebonized (black-stain) fingerboard,
4 dot inlays,natural finish.
Available:1941
(Gruhn's book on vintage guitars)

Neck is fixed, guitar is sweet sounding with a great low end bass.

[toremainn]

I didn't know, but it seems like some coverplates (prewar) are made for dobro/lapslide playing. On this guitar it's much too high-and it's impossible to form and bend because it's very hard/stiff (and I don't want to ruin an original coverplate).
Therefore I've bought a new coverplate(fan pattern)-seems like they don't do other patterns for biscuit dobros.