~1932 Regal Le Domino Big Boy Sunburst

Regal 'Le Domino' Big Boy c 1932 | $1475 | (v2433) This is a depression era offering from Chicago-based Regal, and a bit of an anomaly. It's a jumbo body, 14-fret, roundhole archtop guitar with a slotted head stock. A real mix of eras and build types, but, add in the jaunty domino decals and you have a winning combination .. at least for collectors and players today. The depression had forced a number of the large factories producing so-called 'catalog' guitars to substitute work-intensive appointments like inlaid purfling with cheaply applied decals. The Oscar Schmidt factory in Jersey City had its line of decalcomania guitars, and Regal had the Le Domino line. Both didn't last the decade.

The top is pressed solid spruce with a round sound hole. The top is bound in white celluloid, and set off with a small sunburst and domino decals around the sound hole and lower bout area. The top is supported by several lateral braces. Back and sides are birch with the back showing a slight arch, too. The neck is likely poplar and bound in white celluloid. The fingerboard is dyed maple and sports a number of domino decals as position markers. The neck is carved in a hefty 'V', common to the period. The slotted head stock featues the Le Domino name and the 'Big Boy' logo in gold sparkle script. The bridge is dyed maple with a bone saddle. The floating pick guard is black composit/resin material. There is a Regal label inside the sound hole.

The jumbo body measures 15 1/4" across at the lower bout. Scale length is medium scale, 25 1/2". The neck measures 1 7/8" with string spacing 2 5/16" across at the saddle. Action is set at ~ 4 & 5/64".

The guitar presents as 100% original. Prior repairs appear to be: several back braces reglued; neck reglued possibly reset. There are no cracks and minimal fret/fingerboard wear. The dome of the top retains its integrity. There are various nicks and dings from age and use but sporty domino decals are in overall good condition. Overall, a nice survivor in solid, original condition.

Strung with 11-52s, with its smooth action, the guitar plays easily and produces a really full tone; deep bass and sparkly mids and highs with an overall arch top timbre. It's a fun guitar to finger pick old rags and blues, and its debonaire look really fits that genre of music.

Comes with what appears to be its original soft case in decent condition.

Check out the sound clip!