Cruisertrash
Rising Sun Member
Description below is copied from an ad I have elsewhere. Asking $850, open to offers, and open to trades for bass amps (@bassguyry whatcha holding??). Plenty more pictures and test drives upon request!
*****
Here's an old one for ya. This thing is in 98% player condition, and would make both a great recording and stage guitar. Action is pretty good, frets don't really have wear, and the tuning machines work. The sound of this is unreal- full, rich, and detailed thanks to the solid spruce top, and it cuts through a mix. Haven't seen grain like this in a long time - that kind of lumber just doesn't exist anymore. Will need a new nut as this one is likely original (wood!) and chipped at the high e. Intonation gets a little wonky up the neck, but a new nut and a compensated saddle should help that.
When I got this I had Matt McGibney (best luthier on the Front Range - touring guitar tech with Drive By Truckers, tech for Nathaniel Rateliff) assess the situation: neck joint and split near the soundhole were deemed stable and good, a loose rib was reglued, small parts of the top and back were reglued, and a few short sections of lifting binding were secured. With his blessing I put 9-46 steel strings on it and it's remained rock solid for almost a year, no warpage or movement. Matt thought the bridge was an old replacement for what it's worth - these typically had a trapeze tailpiece. The person I bought it from said the bridge was there when they got it at a pawn shop in Chicago in the early 60s, so that all lines up.
So what is it? Probably a Regal or maybe a Lyon & Healy. Definitely made in Chicago around the turn of the last century. The label inside is for a department store that went out of business in 1908-1910 some time according to the scraps of info I could find. A safe guess is 1890-1920. Note the fret marker on fret 10 rather than 9, that's a clue.
Unfortunately I didn't end up playing this as much as I wanted and currently have a need for bass gear, so I'm moving it along to a better home. Looking for an AmpegV4/V4b or SVT-CL, as well as a cabinet, preferably a 6x10. Cash always works too. Make an offer if you don't like the price.
