Regal Mandolin ID help please

**Matt Spencer** · Jul-15-2022, 6:24am

Yes I searched before I decided to post a question. Okay with that out of the way I have been away from playing mandolin for a while and saw this Regal and thought for the money why not get back in to playing. The price is reasonable but I just want to know a bit more about this model before I decide to buy it. I know the history of Regal but have never come across one with the rounded triangle, non oval (for lack of a better term) sound hole with a raised pick guard. Any help in getting an ID will be appreciated.

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ID: 202018

**Matt Spencer** · Jul-16-2022, 7:51am

Headstock and logo

**NickR** · Jul-16-2022, 9:08am

Show us the tuner units. Regal began using Kluson tuners in the late 30s. That pickguard shape was on a number of their mandolins from the mid-30s onward. I have not seen that sound hole shape before but I would reckon the mandolin is late 30s or early 40s but more photos would help.

**NickR** · Jul-16-2022, 11:58am

Bob Carlin's Regal book shows a post war mandolin- that is different but with that headstock decal. Likewise, this mandolin which is also different but its suggested date is 1945-50.

https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/20...-mandolin.html

Kay made a jumbo guitar in the early 50s with a "bell-shaped" sound hole which describes the aperture quite nicely.

**Matt Spencer** · Jul-18-2022, 3:27pm

Originally Posted by NickR

Bob Carlin's Regal book shows a post war mandolin- that is different but with that headstock decal. Likewise, this mandolin which is also different but its suggested date is 1945-50.

https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/20...-mandolin.html

Kay made a jumbo guitar in the early 50s with a "bell-shaped" sound hole which describes the aperture quite nicely.

Thanks for the link, interesting. Here are a few more pictures. I do not think that the tail piece is original and neither is the bridge which is off for repairs to the top. Yes I know one of the tuners is bent. It has brass bar frets, which I am not sure how I feel about.

Ended up getting it for $50 with a chipboard case, so at the very least I have in interesting project.