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1899 Larson "Regal" Style 6
Built prior to April 1900, the Regal is fitted with a wooden heat-stamped label that reads "Regal, Trademark; Wulschner & Son, Indianapolis, Ind.", and a paper guarantee label signed by Emil (See page 95 of the 2007 edition of Hartman's The Larson Creations). It is a 14" wide Grand Concert sized instrument, roughly the size of a Martin 00-28, but with significantly deeper sides (4-1/4" deep at the waist). Built of Brazilian Rosewood and tight-grained Red Spruce, this regal is a fairly ornate guitar. The guitar's top is bordered with multicolored wooden purflings and has a matching rosette; pearl inlay grace the fingerboard, headstock, and bridge; the back's center-strip is of the same purfling stock that decorates the top, and the entire instrument is bound in white celluloid. The guitar's neck is carved into a satisfyingly big but-not-too-big C shape; it has a fingerboard radius of about 10" (similar to a Gibson), a scale length of 25", and a nut width of 1-3/4. For a turn of the century instrument, this guitar has a quite modern feel. The frets are original, and although quite small, the guitar is well set up and plays very nicely with low action. The combination of a deep body and transverse bracing make for an instrument with a throaty bark and distinct trebles, and the Larson radiused top adds power and headroom. Yes, it's a fine sounding guitar. Most century old guitars have seen some amount of repairwork, and this Larson has had its share. Most importantly, its top is in excellent shape, the finish is original, and the neck angle is good. The back has two long spliced cracks down the center, and the sides show repaired hairline cracks on either side of the endpin. The top has a well repaired crack about 3" long from the bottom towards the bridge, another similar and barely visible crack is located 1.5" away from the treble side of the fingerboard extension; and a third crack is ½" off the bass side of the fingerboard. The top's bracing, bridge, and plate are all intact and in fine shape, and extra support has been added under the fingerboard to create extra stability to that area. Two back braces have been reglued, the neck was at some point reset, and - most recently (by Folkway) - the saddle slot was repositioned for correct intonation, new bone saddle and bridge pins were installed, the frets were dressed, and the original nut was adjusted. The guitar is once again happy and healthy, and is quite well suited for stringing with standard light-gauge steel strings.
If you've managed to wade through all these words about this guitar, we offer you our thanks. It's a great instrument, there's just a bit of a story behind it...
With 1930's chipboard case
SOLD
