1932 Regal Archtop Custom Built Chicago (restored)
 

1932 Regal Archtop Custom Built Chicago

Western Red Cedar top with 4"round sound hole & elevated pick guard, Honduran Mahogany back, sides, neck & slotted headstock with Rosewood inlay, ebony fretboard & bridge, 20 frets (14 frets to body) Tusq nut (1 3/4") & bridge, restored & rebraced in 2011 by myself, 8 coats of super blonde shellac (French Polish) , 25.5" scale. Lower bout is 4 1/4" deep so big bass response, high E intonates perfectly at 12th fret.

Inherited from my father in 1972, I play this sweetheart almost every day, mostly Finger style or Flat picking. Plays well with D' Darrio lites phosphour bronze or Nylons.

Some body cracks (repaired) but otherwise solid & straight.

Not bad for 92 YEARS OLD!

Image at:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4wP3BIvugw/

Beautiful! Bet it sounds great.

Sounds as beautiful as it looks
 

Spent many months completely stripping, dismantling, restoring, then French polishing this old boy, but it pays me back every time I play it.

I plan to post pics of the process sometime soon,

Thanks

The main reason Martin C1's were refit to flat tops was soundboard implosion due to extremely light (1/4" spruce) X bracing. The tops cracked down the centre lines of the Cedar due to heavy string tension & the long scale (25.5").

When I restored my 1932 Regal I installed handcrafted modern Martin style bracing.

Pics are on Instagram including pic of original bracing & my handcrafted "Martin" style:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4y7tKJP...RlODBiNWFlZA==

Thanks