I'm pretty sure I can identify who built the Beltone and Blue Comet mandolins with the holes around the outside edge. I would have guessed it was Regal, this pretty much proves it. Regal didn't have to buy anything private label.
I'm pretty sure I can identify who built the Beltone and Blue Comet mandolins with the holes around the outside edge. I would have guessed it was Regal, this pretty much proves it. Regal didn't have to buy anything private label.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
I think mine is a regal...I'll have to check. I know it does not say Blue Comet and sortof wondered why..good subject
Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
www.f5journal.com
Regal, Blue Comet, Medalist, Beltone, Artistic... prob a few more names out there, too.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
What was there a function/purpose for the outer band around the body? looks heavy
What I didn't realise until I got a good look at a Blue Comet recently is that there are two separate air chambers. The upper one with the f holes is, as far as I could tell, is not connected to the lower one. It looked like a solid sheet of plywood between the two sections with the little grommet soundholes on the edges of that piece of ply the only openings to the lower section. Interesting idea...
cheers
http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com
The Mandolin Project on building mandolins
The Mandolin-a history
The Ukulele on building ukuleles
"What I didn't realize until I got a good look at a Blue Comet recently is that there are two separate air chambers. The upper one with the f holes is, as far as I could tell, is not connected to the lower one. It looked like a solid sheet of plywood between the two sections with the little grommet soundholes on the edges of that piece of ply the only openings to the lower section. Interesting idea..."
I was not aware of that either. I sure would like to buy one of those. out of pure curiosity. Besides, I admire any product which violates the normal expectations of what a mando should look like.
I wonder if the patent for this design could be found for the leading particulars and the designer's name? I got to play one once in Pensacola Florida that was brand less but really sounded pretty good. It sounded to me more like an oval hole than a F hole. I also wonder if a luthier could give the design some advantage by using a solid carved with reflex/flex perimeter for more response between upper and lower chamber?
"A sudden clash of thunder, the mind doors burst open, and lo, there sits old man Buddha-nature in all his homeliness."
CHAO-PIEN
This design might have been the first Tonegard.
"A sudden clash of thunder, the mind doors burst open, and lo, there sits old man Buddha-nature in all his homeliness."
CHAO-PIEN
There's a Regal brand starting under $175 and a Blue Comet branded one starting at $800 on the Fleabay auctions.
"A sudden clash of thunder, the mind doors burst open, and lo, there sits old man Buddha-nature in all his homeliness."
CHAO-PIEN
I had one many years ago but sold it. I believe they were not solid wood and, at least the one I owned. lacked a lot in the tone department.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Cool pic. What's up with the jodhpurs? I've seen pics of Bill Monroe wearing them, also. Stage clothes, obviously. Kentucky=horses=Bluegrass? Kinda reminds me of MC Hammer and the harem pants craze of the 80's.......
Last edited by Jeff Mando; Oct-04-2014 at 5:35pm.
Hmmmmm... jodhpurs and Blue Comet mandolins... a match made in heaven?
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
You gotta admit the jodhpurs really show off their leather stompers. Polo anyone?
"A sudden clash of thunder, the mind doors burst open, and lo, there sits old man Buddha-nature in all his homeliness."
CHAO-PIEN
Reno was going to be Monroe's banjo player in 1943, according to his Wikipedia bio, but enlisted for WWII instead. When he came back Earl Scruggs had the job, though Reno did play a bit with Monroe 1948-50. He probably took the jodhpur look from Monroe's band; though I believe Monroe had dropped the costume by the mid-1940's; did Flatt and Scruggs ever wear them? I wonder…
Reno was about 16 when Monroe first recruited him, and I have heard he had to lie about his age to join the army and fight in the Pacific theater.
As for the mandolin design, it appears that the "front part" of the mandolin has a back, and that the "resonator" is attached behind it. Therefore, all that the so-called "resonator" can amplify, is the vibration of the mandolin's back -- unlike the banjo resonator, which directly reflects the vibration of the banjo head. So you have a weighty appendage to the mandolin that provides little acoustic benefit.
You can often assess the value of certain design features of instruments, by noting whether they produce general acceptance, large sales, and emulation by other builders. The Blue Comet design is 0-for-3 in those regards. These mandolins were apparently made in significant numbers originally, since they keep showing up here and there, but they certainly didn't "catch on." So we're left with a heavy, dull-sounding mandolin, that some sellers apparently think has "vintage" value -- but I don't see anyone actually playing one.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
I have one that looks almost exactly like the one in Mike's picture, branded as a Beltone.
I have suspected a space behind the "back" as seen through the front, but never had this confirmed.
Its a fun instrument - but mine at least doesn't have a sound you would write home about. I think they look real cool though, and I really enjoy mine.
I found this under Wiki Resonator Mandolin.
"Blue Comet mandolin. This one was manufactured by the Regal Musical Instrument Company.
Blue Comet is an inexpensive 1930s brand of mandolin manufactured by the Regal Musical Instrument Company in Chicago, Il that featured an extra wooden sound chamber encircling the body. Somewhat resembling a banjo tone ring, this chamber contained several small soundholes with metal screen covers. While the sound chamber may indeed affect the tone or volume of the mandolin, Blue Comets do not contain resonator cones and are not truly resophonic. They are usually dark brown with F holes. Similar mandolins were sold under the Beltone brand and a couple of other brand names."
"A sudden clash of thunder, the mind doors burst open, and lo, there sits old man Buddha-nature in all his homeliness."
CHAO-PIEN
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
Dayton actually built mandolins with two chambers well before the Regal/Beltone/Blue Comet came along and added the holes in the second chamber. I recall seeing a mandolin with a second chamber and a hole in what would have been the middle plate but can't seem to find it right now.
For what it's worth, there are a couple of guitars in the CF Martin Museum that were built with this same Format with the holes. Interestingly enough it didn't have a sound hole in the front. I can't remember the name of the company they were built for. It's in the middle of this group. I took this picture in 2003 if I'm to believe my earlier post on the cafe where I posted it.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Bookmarks