Author Topic: 12 String Trash Can Find - IT'S HOME! (Read 3333 times)

sabocat · « **on:** November 26, 2014, 12:27:52 PM »

This one was literally found sticking out of a garbage can - a Regal 12 string. I don't know much about it as Regals are not the easiest guitars out there to figure out. This one with the funky wrap around "smile" bridge shows up in the 1939-40 catalog. It seemingly disappears from the Regal line after 1946. But again, it is hard to determine anything for sure. It has the double X bracing which was standard in Regal-made jumbos starting around 1935. It is all there (except for one missing tuner post and the end pin) but when I removed the two strings that were on it I found that the neck was so loose it would pop off if I yelled at it. So at the moment I do not have a clue how the guitar sounds. Definitely worth fixing up and putting back on the road though.

nobocaster · « **Reply #1 on:** November 26, 2014, 12:31:44 PM »

Nice find! Agreed, definitely worth getting back into playing shape.

Parlor Picker · « **Reply #2 on:** November 27, 2014, 07:08:54 AM »

We all dream of finds like this, but they rarely happen.

SouthernSounds · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2015, 10:56:12 AM »

Any progress on the trash can find? And congrats, by the way.

All the best,
Bruno

sabocat · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2015, 03:16:56 PM »

Quote from: SouthernSounds on March 12, 2015, 10:56:12 AM

Any progress on the trash can find? And congrats, by the way.

Still up at the shop.

frankie · « **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2015, 09:31:28 AM »

FWIW - a Regal 12-string of approximately the same model and age was Alvin Youngblood Hart's main 12-string until his Fraulini came along.

nobocaster · « **Reply #6 on:** March 16, 2015, 05:55:05 AM »

Quote from: frankie on March 15, 2015, 09:31:28 AM

FWIW - a Regal 12-string of approximately the same model and age was Alvin Youngblood Hart's main 12-string until his Fraulini came along.

He loved his Fraulini so much, he just tossed that Regal in the trash!

sabocat · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2015, 08:40:13 PM »

Alvis is the only guy I have known to play one of these Regals.

Still waiting on it.

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2015, 11:50:06 PM »

I have one. You won't be disappointed as long as you get used to the width and girth of the neck.

sabocat · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2015, 07:04:33 AM »

Considering I am surrounded by 1920s and 1930s Schmidts, Kay Krafts and such I did not find the neck on the Regal intimidating. It just feels "normal" to me. But I always have a bit of a laugh when somebody refers to the neck on my Banner Gibson J-50 as a "baseball bat." Ain't even in the ballpark.

Have to ask, does your Real 12 have the fixed bridge or Trapeze tailpiece? Reason I am asking is the only ones I have been able to dig up all have the trapeze tailpiece. Other than the 1939-1940 catalog I have never laid eyes on even a picture of one with the fixed wrap around bridge.

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2015, 11:39:10 AM »

Here's a pic. Was told this was probably a Regal or Harmony. No name, but rather large - hence Boris.

sabocat · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2015, 08:44:34 AM »

At long last. I made the two hour trip into the Middle of Nowhere Missouri to fetch it. After a laundry list of repairs, the guitar probably plays better than it did when it rolled out of the factory in Chicago. First song I played on it? What else but Leadbelly's "Gallis Pole." Three things immediately popped into my head. First, that is still a tough song to play. Second, I hate tuning 12 string guitars. Third, this thing truly does have the biggest, fattest, thickest neck in the known Guitar Universe.

Really nice lower end on the guitar but the upper end tends to "shimmer out" so I will have to work on calming the beast down a bit. The guitar does ring out though. You can strike a big fat A7chord and go have a cup of coffee and cigarette and it will still be going when you get back. Figure I will go old school and string it with 13s, double up on the G string and tune down to B or C.

Lastfirstface · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2015, 12:07:25 PM »

Very cool. What's the scale length?

EddieD · « **Reply #13 on:** April 17, 2015, 05:27:33 PM »

Look beautiful!

sabocat · « **Reply #14 on:** April 18, 2015, 08:30:30 PM »

Quote from: Lastfirstface on April 17, 2015, 12:07:25 PM

Very cool. What's the scale length?

25.5"

frankie · « **Reply #15 on:** April 18, 2015, 09:00:08 PM »

Quote from: Prof Scratchy on April 02, 2015, 11:39:10 AM

Here's a pic. Was told this was probably a Regal or Harmony. No name, but rather large - hence Boris.

That does look big, but doesn't particularly say Harmony to me... neither Regal. Can you post some closeups of the purfling?

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #16 on:** April 19, 2015, 09:36:01 AM »

On my campervan travels at the moment, Frankie, but will try to do so when back home...

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #17 on:** April 22, 2015, 03:26:50 AM »

Hi frankie - here's a close up pic of the binding and soundhole rosette. I think this inlay was factory produced and appeared on a number of brands in the '20's.

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #18 on:** April 22, 2015, 10:29:43 PM »

Looks like a Larson Bros. to me.

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #19 on:** April 23, 2015, 01:50:28 AM »

Tee hee!

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #20 on:** April 23, 2015, 08:16:01 AM »

Why don't you send a photo to Steve Ulrich at Retrofret ? He'd be able to tell you exactly what it is. It also reminds me of some New York early 20th century Italian made guitars I've seen on rare occasions. Pat Conte might know, I'll send him a pic.

Johnm · « **Reply #21 on:** April 23, 2015, 08:31:23 AM »

I don't know who the maker of Boris was, but he (it?) is a spectacular-sounding guitar--the best-sounding twelve-string guitar I have ever heard, I think. And the guitar also plays very easily, despite the big neck. I was very fortunate to have an opportunity to try the guitar out last summer. Thanks, Prof, you have a great one!
All best,
Johnm

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #22 on:** April 23, 2015, 09:21:43 AM »

Pat says he thinks its a Holzapfel which I think is right, http://www.folkwaymusic.com/museum/other-acoustic-guitars-/holzapfel-beitel-0113/

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #23 on:** April 23, 2015, 09:25:33 AM »

How about a demo youtube?

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #24 on:** April 23, 2015, 10:17:17 AM »

I think it may always be a mystery, but yes, as Johnm says, it does sound good and play well, and that's the main thing. I think it was Neil Harpe (in a previous thread) who suggested Harmony or Regal, and I'm sure he'd have said Holzapfel if he'd thought so, as he's a bit of an expert on those. As regards the Holzapfel instruments, I think most if not all of them had a zero fret - but Neil will correct me if I'm wrong. I recently found one of those on ebay and pointed Neil in its direction. It was pick up only, so I couldn't buy it even though I've always wanted to play one! I'll try and do a youtube demo one of these days.

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #25 on:** April 23, 2015, 11:33:13 AM »

Holzapfels

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #26 on:** April 23, 2015, 12:24:46 PM »

Hmm? Body shape looks familiar...?

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #27 on:** April 23, 2015, 02:03:06 PM »

Holzapfel might have been low on fret wire that day, or someone replaced the fretboard without a zero fret.

frankie · « **Reply #28 on:** April 23, 2015, 05:06:25 PM »

I'd say it's enough to know it's a great sounding and playing guitar... it's interesting to look at the details and speculate on a builder, but there's no point in getting overly enthusiastic about a particular maker's name. It's not gonna make it play or sound any better.

And not to put too fine a point on it:

mightⁿ <> is

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #29 on:** April 23, 2015, 07:28:19 PM »

True, but its a spillover from my compulsive painting attribution jones....jest gotta knows..!

sabocat · « **Reply #30 on:** April 29, 2015, 04:07:41 PM »

That guitar is amazingly cool. I love the shape of the body. You were probably told it was a Regal or Harmony because by the late 1930s they were about the only companies with them in regular production. The only other possibilities might be something like Oscar Schmidt which, although dropping 12 strings from the catalog in the mid-1930s, still made them as special orders or the small shops like, as mentioned, Holzaphel.

Bottom line though is any 12 string made in the 1930s or 1940s is one heck of a rare find these days.

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Author Topic: 12 String Trash Can Find - IT'S HOME! (Read 3333 times)