Regal Guitar Serial Numbers
Regal 'Moon & Stars' Dobro - Round Neck c. 1929 SOLD
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The National-Dobro/Regal connection story is fairly well known in vintage guitar circles, but it's worth repeating. In the early 30s, the California-made National-Dobro resonator guitars were selling like hot cakes, so the Regal factory, in Chicago, was contracted to build the wood body, and install the metal parts shipped from California. In 1936, all California assembly had moved to Chicago. Additionally, it's well known that Regal built many resonator guitars without the Dobro or Regal name. These guitars were distributed through jobbers, and were ultimately sold through stores or catalogs, such as Sears and Montgomery Wards.
This guitar is one such catalog guitar, and likely made right before WWII shut down production of the metal parts due to the war effort. It's difficult to date, since the off-brand instruments rarely had serial numbers, but we'd guess c. Daniel defense modular float rail assembly 12.0. 1939 would be fairly accurate.
The body is ply, which was used in all wood-bodied Dobros and Nationals we've seen. The top has two 'f'-holes, and is bound in white paint. Both top and back sport an attractive sunburst. Inside, there is an aluminum, stamped cone, but no through-neck stick, spider or soundwell, as typically found on labeled Dobros and Regals. Instead, a metal bar stretches across the opening and the bridge and cone anchor to this. The saddle is fret wire. This is a cheaper approach than the cast aluminum spider, and makes sense considering it's a catalog guitar, the depression, looming world war, and the end of production just on the horizon.
The neck is basswood or poplar and is carved in a pronounced 'V' typical of the period for Regal. The neck is attached with a traditional dove tail, much like some of the National wood-body guitars. The original fret board was 'ebonized' maple, but it essentially splintered when frets were removed. The replacement board is ebony, non-radiused like the original, with new frets. The original pearl position dots are retained.
A nice touch is the seldom seen 'Moon & Stars' cover plate. This design appeared around the mid to late-thirties on some mandolins, but it's pretty rare on guitars.
The scale length is 25 1/8'. The neck measures 1 13/16' across at the nut and string spacing is ~ 2 1/4' across at the saddle.
There are no apparent repairs or signs of abuse on this guitar; it still has its sparkle. The tuners, nut, tail piece and end pin are all original. There is some oxidation to the cover plate, and a few nicks and scratches from age and use. The neck is straight, and with the fresh neck set and new fingerboard and frets, the guitar plays easily. Action is set at 6/64'. The guitar has the Dobro voice, but likely due to the non-spider set up, is not as nasal sounding as most wood Dobros. But it projects well, with a nice woody ring. A really nice ragtime or blues slide guitar.
Comes with a soft case.
Be sure to check the sound clip!
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Dobro Metal Body Resonator
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Regal Guitar History
Contact the Vintage Guitar Info Guy1938 Dobro No.35 metalbody
- Introduction:
- 1928-1937 Vintage Dobro Serial Numbers (includes bothmetal and wood body resonator instruments)
- 1970-present OMI Dobro Serial Numbers (includes bothmetal and wood body resonator instruments)
- M-32 gold painted vintage resonator metalbody
- M-35 sunburst painted vintage resonator metalbody
- M-46 'Lumalite' silver painted vintage resonator metalbody
- M-47 'Lumalite' mahogany grain painted vintage resonator metalbody
- M-14 nickel plated vintage resonator metalbody
- M-15 nickel plated vintage engraved resonator metalbody
- M-16 nickel plated vintage engraved resonator metalbody
- M-62 'Spanish dancer' nickel plated vintage resonator metalbody
- M-65 'singing ladies' nickel plated vintage resonator metalbody
- Ukulele vintage resonators
1935 to 1940 Metal Body Resonator Vintage Model Info:
Painted Metal body Dobro Resonators:
Nickel Plated Metal body Dobro Resonators:
- The Resonator.
The Dobro is a single cone resonator guitar that is easily confused at firstglace with the single cone National guitars. But in fact, they are fundamentally different in construction and design. The Dobro resonator isdish-shaped, opposite of the volcano-shaped National resonator. The Dobrohas an eight legged bridge support (called a 'spider') that spans the dishand conducts the string vibrations (compared to National's biscuit system).
If it has a smooth edge, it's a reissue made from1970 or newer.
Left:1935-1940 No.32 with a gold 'frosted Duco' krinkle finish. Note the fiddle edge.
Right:1935-1940 No.62 Dobro with a fiddle edge.
Regal Guitar Serial Numbers
- Metal Body Resonator Guitars.
Most Dobros have wooden bodies, but Dobro also made metalbody guitars from1935 to 1940 only. Regal (which was Dobro's exclusive licensee) also mademetal body resonator guitars with their brand name and also the 'Old Kraftman' name. Severalother resonator brand names were also used such as Ward, but these are in fact still Regal/Dobro made resonator guitars.All metalbody Regal/Dobros have 14 frets clear of the body.
The construction of the Regal/Dobro metalbody was quite different than National guitars. Regal/Dobro tops and backs were fastened to the sides with a unique methodthat required no soldering. The resulting lip around the edges gave riseto the name 'Violin Edge' or, 'Fiddle Edge' as it was known around the factory. This construction method was only used from 1935 to 1940. Alllater model metal Dobro's which were in production from the 1970 to thepresent are easily identifiable because they lack thisfiddle edge. Some of these models used a 'M-' prefix or 'M' suffix around the model number. Hawaiiansquare neck models used a 'P-' prefix or 'H' suffix.
Port holes versus f-holes on two metal body vintage 1935-1940 Dobro guitars.
Left: gold 'frosted Duco' No.32 with port holes.
Right: sunburst No.35 with f-holes.
- Port holes versus f-holes.
Also most Dobro metalbodies have window-like round soundholes in the upper body, except for (consistently) the No.35 which has segmented F-holes. Though some other models will also have segmented F-holes, most models withthe Dobro brand name have the round window soundholes. Segmented F-holesare seen more on Regal brand resonator instruments than Dobro.
Metal or wood body, Dobros with 'f' holes are considered less desirable than 'port' hole models.Dobro used f-holes on their less expensive models,and port holes on their mid to upper end models. This especially appliesto wood body Dobros. Metal body dobros this is not really an issue.
The tailpiece used on all 1935-1940 vintage
Dobro metal bodies.
- Metalbody Dobro Tailpieces.
The tailpiece used on 1935-1940 metal body vintage Dobro's is very unique.And it's very fragile. Often you see these broken where they wrap aroundthe fiddle edge of the body. Since no one has made a fiddle-end guitar since1940, replacements are very difficult to find.
Peavey Serial Numbers
Round versus Square Neck Models.
Roundneck metalbody vintage Regal/Dobros are more valuable than squareneck metalbodies. In woodbody Dobros, the opposite is true; squareneck woodbody Dobros are more valuable than roundneck woodbodies.
I collect just roundneck metalbody Regal/Dobros. They have a sweet tone with limited attack, but long decay (opposed to National's single cone sound of sharp attack, short decay). In this respect, a good metalbody Regal/Dobro sounds a lot like a tricone National.
Lucky for me, metalbody Regal/Dobros are not considered by the collectorcommunity to be as good or valuable as National metalbody guitars. This has kept the prices somewhat low compared to other vintage guitars.
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A Dobro peghead decals from the 1930's. The 'solid' peghead on
the right is from a (1938-1940) M-35 metal body.
Serial number on a 1936
M-35 metal body.
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Dobro Serial Numbers