~1943 Regal 12-String Concert-size Natural

Regal 12-String Concert-size c. 1943 | $ | (v2229) In vintage 12-string lore, the Stella brand is most noted, spurred on by the succes of a number of country blues players who used Stellas exclusively when recording in the 1920s through the 1940s. The most iconic 12-string of the bunch would be Leadbelly's Stella jumbo 12, custom made for him at the Schmidt factory in the 1930s. But Schmidt was surely not the first guitar maker to offer a 12-string. As ealy as 1901, Holzapfel in Baltimore had produced a jumbo 12. Grunewald in New Orleans was producing small-bodied 10 and 12-strings about the same time, too. But it appears that the large Regal factory in Chicago was a bit late to the party. Judging from old catalogs and extant guitars, it appears that Regal only began offering 12-strings in the late 1920s, and again appeared in catalogs through the 1930s. A seat-of-the-pants guess-timate suggests that the Schmidt-made 12s are the most common of the pre-WWII examples, but even those are considered rare. Much rarer are the Holzapfel, Grunewald, and, yes, even the Regal 12. We've had a couple Regal 12s over the years, and have seen a few more, and they've all been grand-concert or jumbo-size bodies. This particular example is a concert-size 12-string guitar, which puts it in a class of fairly rare instruments.

The original Kluson tuner gears are rivited (rather than fastened with screws) and suggest a war-time manufacture for this guitar. Even though it shares the features of a concert-size Regal 12 in a late 1930s catalog, the rivited gears and the lack of colorful purfling suggest a later example than what is shown in the 30s catalog. Regardless, it shares the same dimensions and materials as its 30s kin.

The top is spruce, made from four pieces (another possible nod to war-time production), bound in b/w/b purfling and white celluloid. The top is ladder-braced, and features the slanted top brace under the sound hole common to Regal guitars. The back and sides are slab-sawn birch. The back is bound in white celluloid and sports a decalcomania center strip. The neck is likely poplar and carved is a healthy 'C' - but not to 'baseball bat' dimensions. There are four inlaid pearl position markers. The frets are the original thin type of the period. The guitar retains its original tailpiece, bridge and nut (both ebonized maple). The Kluson strip tuners are original to the guitar. The body and headstock are finished in a red-mahogany hue. The back of the neck appears sunburst, but that feature looks to have been caused by playing wear exposing an undercoat. The headstock retains its original Regal decal, but has withered with age.

The body measures 13 11/16", which makes it a rare concert-size 12-string. Body depth is 4" at the tailpiece, which helps give it some oomph in the bass. Scale length is 25". The neck measures just a hair under 2", with string spacing 2 7/16" at the saddle.

The guitar came to us in original condition except for the end pin. At some point, way back, someone gave it an overcoat of varnish. The bulk of it on the back and sides is removed (original intact), but remains on the neck and top. We recently reset the neck, re-glued two back braces, re-glued two back/side bulges, installed a bone saddle to replace the original fret wire (this gives the option to raise or lower the action), cleaned the tuners and tailpiece and leveled and dressed the frets. There is a 1" crack on the treble side, lower bout and a slight seam opening on the top under the tailpiece. The metal parts show evidence of oxidation. The guitar has been well played over its history, and it oozes mojo! It has the look of a blues guitar that's told many stories, with many left to tell.

We're big 12-string fans, and this concert-size 12 is a pleasure to play! Action is set at ~ 5/64". It rings like a mini pump organ with lots of chimey sustain. The sound is woody and punchy. It's a great ragtime fingerpicking 12, for sure, and a total blast with a slide. The tone doesn't growl like a larger 12, but it surely has a bark of its own!

Currently no case, but we'll source one soon.

Check out the sound clips