Regal B&J Serenader c 1932

B&J (Beugeieisen & Jacobson) of New York was a jobber of instruments made by others and distributed and sold under their own brand. Serenaders appear in various forms, such as tenor, resonator, ukes and six-strings. This particular example was made by Regal and sports the Serenader brand on the head stock and inside the sound hole.

Regal was known for making affordable 'catalog' guitars, but when contracted to do so, could produce a high-quality instrument, with good woods and fine workmanship. This example fits the bill of a quality guitar, but is also unusual in that it has the 'modern' 14-frets clear to the body but retains the older slotted head stock and ladder bracing.

The back and sides are made from a quality-grade mahogany, with a spruce top (ladder braced). The top sports an attractive honey-brown sunburst and a Regal-esque pick guard. Both top and back are bound. The neck is mahogany and carved in a 'V'. The fingerboard is ebony. The head stock is capped with Brazilian rosewood and features the 'Serenader' decal, in good condition. The tuners are of the period, and may be original to the guitar.

The body measures 14 3/16" across the lower bout; scale length is 25 1/4"; nut width is 1 3/4".

The guitar is structurally sound and appears to have had a neck reset. The rosewood bridge is a replacement, and looks to have been shaved a bit. The fingerboard was refretted and a center seam separation reglued. The center side waist area has an inconspicuous grain split.

The guitar is well set up with low action .. 5/64" .. and plays easily. This is one of the fuller and rich-sounding ladder-braced guitars we've heard. Very resonant and deeper than most.

Comes with a new hard case.

Check the sound clip!