Regal Electric Spanish Model Hollow Body Electric Guitar, c. 1940's, made in Chicago, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated birch body, poplar neck with ebonized fingerboard.
This rare and interesting guitar is a very early Electric Spanish offering from Regal in Chicago, who were not big players in the 1940's electric market. This is also a perfect example of the sort of cross pollination of the Chicago instrument builders of the 1930's and '40's-the instrument is definitely built by-and labeled- Regal, but the all-in-one pickup and wiring assembly with a cast housing is also typical of some period Kay guitars.
This is a purpose-built electric guitar with a fairly heavy flat-topped plywood body, F-holes on the upper bout, a 14 fret neck with elevated fretboard and a flat-bottomed floating bridge. The neck itself is wide and fairly chunky with a pronounced "V" profile, but plays very well. The large double-bladed pickup has plenty of power and snarl-this was never going to be a traditional jazz guitar! This is a very cool and surprisingly useful guitar, a better player than one might think at first glance. An excellent blues guitar (think early John Lee Hooker) and a really cool example of an early dedicated electric.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.). Very clean overall, this guitar in much better condition than most similar period instruments! There is just a little wear overall (most notably to the painted pickup cover) but no alterations except one newer pot. Good neck and frets, ready to play for the next 75 years! Excellent - Condition.
