Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
I have just ordered this- a new book from Bob Carlin to augment Volume 1 which has been out for a while. Regal is a huge subject and Bob's first book opened the door on this enterprise and its output to so many. Indeed, some were unaware of the high quality higher end instruments the firm made- particularly in the 1930s before WW2 ended the era of exotic creations. One of my best mandolins is a hand-carved Regal Custom from 1939 and it was featured in an advertisement published in that first book.
Re: Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
You may have to keep an eye open for second hand copies on eBay or Amazon. It used to pop up all the time on eBay but as you have written- it seems to be absent now and is not shown on Bob Carlin's website whereas the new book is.
Re: Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
It appears to be for sale here in the UK on one site but it is unlikely to post to the USA. I am sure there must be a copy for sale somewhere in the USA.
Re: Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
Here's the scoop: I spoke to Ron at Centerstream Publishing. Nice guy. They do have a few left there (apparently the online inventory is not fully up to date). The current printing is about out, but they are planning a new printing of the book. I bought one and am looking forward to reading it.
"To be obsessed with the destination is to remove the focus from where you are." Philip Toshio Sudo, Zen Guitar
Re: Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
Bob Carlin's Regal Book (number one, I haven't yet received book number two) and Hubert Pleijsier's Washburn Prewar Instrument Styles are recommended for anyone that has an interest in the vintage musical instrument world beyond Gibson and Martin. There are a few other books but some of them are hard (for me at least) to recommend. The Regal Book and the Washburn book were both eye opening and in my mind changed the knowledge base of those instruments greatly.
Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Dec-10-2022 at 9:20am.
Reason: Fixed typo, sorry Hubert
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Re: Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
I agree totally with Mike. The Regal and pre-war Washburn books are highly recommended. The only other ones I like in that vein have no mandolin content whatsoever.
Re: Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
Some criticise the Regal book for not looking at the resonator dimension but it is a big book and I imagine Bob Carlin had to make a decision and as resonators head off into National and Dobro makers' territory it was rational for a number of reasons but does not satisfy those who would like that aspect covered. I am more than happy with the content as I have learned so much.
I’ve ordered mine. Looking forward to reading it! I have a few of the nicer Regal-made instruments. Fun to play, fun to look at, and fun to hold a piece of music history in one’s hands.
Re: Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
"I have a few of the nicer Regal-made instruments"
Yes, indeed. I just think that it is a shame that my Regal Custom has such an utilitarian headstock which Regal seemed to use on the complete range although those made for third parties- like Bacon & Day often had a Ritzier look! I am not obsessed with bling but by making the mandolin look more desirable, I am surprised this did not extend to the headstock! Here it is- my luthier made a replica pickguard- so it is dressed up a little bit more!
Well, I don't know what happened there! Seems to be like the song on Elite Hotel by Emmylou Harris: "feeling single, seeing double"!
Re: Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
I see yours has a Bell Brand tailpiece- and I have devised a method so that when I restring mine with that tailpiece I do not go into orbit trying to get the strings out the other side! Montgomery Ward sold the model as well.
Re: Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
Originally Posted by jim simpson
Here's a pic of a Regal made Continental reverse scroll mandolin that I did a little work on a while back. It sounded very good.
I have a similar Regal Ultra Grand with a disintegrating pickguard. The case alone is unique. The same model was sold under the B&D mark as well znd called "Sultana Grand". My guess is that they had leftovers after their contract with Bacon expired and they had the names cut in pearl so made "Ultra" from the remnants of "Sultana".
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud Facebook 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
Re: Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
Here's a screenshot from a post someone some years ago who had a similar idea of comping the link between the Ultra and Sultana Grands type fonts and inlays.
Come to think of it, it looks as if there is a "Sultana" font in my current release of Illustrator.
Re: Regal Musical Instruments: Volume 2: Addendum and Errata
Originally Posted by Jim Garber
I have a similar Regal Ultra Grand with a disintegrating pickguard. The case alone is unique. The same model was sold under the B&D mark as well znd called "Sultana Grand". My guess is that they had leftovers after their contract with Bacon expired and they had the names cut in pearl so made "Ultra" from the remnants of "Sultana".
I love that the pickguard matches the case.
"To be obsessed with the destination is to remove the focus from where you are." Philip Toshio Sudo, Zen Guitar
Bookmarks