~1930 Regal Marveltone 12 fret 00 Mahogany

c. 1930 Marveltone (Regal) 12 fret 00 Mahogany #2503

Another really great pre-war X braced Regal...this one a Marveltone, stamped #2503 on the neck block. The Marveltone line was the equivalent of Regal's model #3 in their "custom built" label line, that is it is a 12 fret 00 with solid mahogany back and sides, red spruce top, mahogany neck with ebony fret board and bridge and traditional Martin style scalloped X bracing under the top. The body has simple appointments such as black top and back binding with black/white wood purfling lines inside the top binding, a three-ring rosette of alternating black/white wood purfling and pearl dot position markers on the fret board. There are no top or side cracks. The back has three repaired cracks, two right at the waist and one near the edge of the lower bout on the treble panel. The cracks measure about 3 1/2", 2 1/2" and 1" and all are level and tight. The bridge was replaced with a proper sized replica of the original when the neck was reset recently as the original bridge was badly cracked and had been shaved. Everything else on the guitar appears to be original. The finish shows lots of nicks and scrapes but superficial stuff, nothing deep and no gouges or heavy play wear. The frets and fret board are in great shape. There is evidence at the end block that there was once a tailpiece on the guitar, as there are three filled screw holes. The neck has a full "C" profile and nut width of 1 7/8" and a pin spacing of 2 7/16". The action is set at 6/64" at the low E and 5/64" at the high E, the guitar plays easily all over the neck with good intonation and no buzz. Crisp, woody tone that you expect from vintage mahogany (check out the attached sound file). Excellent as a finger picker, holds up well to a moderate flat pick attack as well. Compares very favorably to a Martin 00-18 of the same era but comes at a much lower price. Comes with a new Guardian hardshell case. $2795