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Like the CE and EG models the serial number is located on the neck plate on the back of the guitar. The following number determines the model: 8 or SA for the Swamp Ash Special, then the sequential number for that particular model. the first 200 Swamp Ash Specials were given a CE serial number. It's a 1937 Regal Dobro Model 37. There is no serial number, but my Dad bought it new in 1937. I have received his Hawaiin Guitar study material dated from 1937 to 1942, at which time He went to War in the European Theater. This is the finest Model 37 on the Internet.
archtop.com
ca. 1938 Regal Esquire
Serial #:105, Regal Custom Shop label
Body size at lower bout: 18 1/2. Body depth: 4'. Scale length: 25 1/2' Nut Width: 1 11/16' Neck depth: .90/1.03 1st/1th frets
Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
Materials: Solid carved spruce soundboard, arched flame maple back and sides, solid mahogany neck, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay, abalone peghead inlay, bound fingerboard and soundholes; checkerboard body binding.
Hardware: Original chrome art-deco trapeze tailpiece. Vintage correct bound tortoise pickguard, chrome 'valve cover' tuners, compensated adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge.
Notes: It's big. Really big. And production was small. Reallysmall.
The Chicago based Regal Musical Instrument Company was one of America's largest guitar manufacturers for most of the first half of the 20th century. Founded in 1908, Regal introduced its first hand carved archtops in 1932. Though best known for producing Dobro and other house-brand instruments, Regal maintained a Custom Shop to produce hand-carved archtops of professional quality for brands such as Bacon and Day, Recording King, and others.
Regal's uppermost models were known as 'Coliseum' size. These behemoth guitars competed in the 'size race' of the late 30's, as builders vied with each other to produce larger and louder instruments for the big band market. Though Gibson and Epiphone had been making 18' bout super jumbo guitars for several years, Regal upped the ante with an unprecedented body depth of a full four inches. The massive body that resulted is comparable only to the legendary Stromberg Master 400 in cubic volume.
With such a low serial number, we suspect this guitar to have been one of the very first of the Coliseum archtops, and it does exhibit a unique combination of features. While most of the firm's super jumbos carried the 'Regal Prince' or 'B&D Sultana' logos, this guitar is labeled as an 'Esquire', a designation later used for their 15' inch archtops. And while the former models had bodies of figured mahogany, this early example was crafted with back and sides of highly flamed arched maple veneer, the only one like it we have seen to date.
The top is carved of solid spruce, parallel braced for power and projection, with bound f-holes of unusual delicacy, checkerboard body binding, and raised 'fiddle-edge' trim bordering the sides. Finally, a distinctive original art-deco tailpiece in fitted, with vintage correct 'valve cover' tuners installed, both in matching chrome finish.
This remarkable guitar has been maintained in wonderful condition, without apparent cracks, and all-original sunburst finish. Apart from some scattered lacquer nicks, the guitar shows surprisingly light playwear, with little in the way of buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. A recent neck set and frets give the instrument smooth low action, with excellent bridge height for optimal volume and tone, and a fresh high-precision setup.
The voice is as huge as the guitar itself: while some guitars bark, this one positively woofs, with tremendous volume and an enormous low-frequency response that is utterly unique. Massive and warm, this guitar has a quintessential swing rhythm sound, and was built to cut through an entire horn section without an amp.
The original case is included, and big enough to take a nap in. Fit for a musical gladiator, this Coliseum guitar awaits. One only: call now.
Setup: Bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64' to 6/64' at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original black deluxe plush-lined hardshell case.
Kay Guitar Serial Numbers
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NOTES ON SERIAL NUMBERS:
7 or 8 DIGITS stamped in the back of the headstock:
(D)DMMYNNN
DD= day of the month (01 to 31)
MM= month (01 to 12)
Y= last digit of the year (ex: 1992 = 2)
NNN = production number 000 to 999 resetted every year
NOTES:
- year '7' can be 1987 or 1997, '8' can be 1988 or 1998, '9' can be 1989 or 1999! You have to look at the models in production that year.
- lot of old esp's does not have any serial on the back of the headstock. If you are lucky you can find a serial written on pencil where the body is bolted to the neck (or in the neck also) or in one of the pickup cavities.
SERIAL UNDER PICKUPS:
Regal Guitars Chicago
For example my MX-220 have serial '#80129' that means was made the 08-1991 number 29)
NOTE:Follow this reference may not be accurate because probably they printed a certain number of plates and then put on guitars in a random manner, without noticing consecutive numeration. This is the reason why we can easilu find guitars with the bolt plate referring to a year or two before or after respect the serial printed on the back of the headstock. To have an exact dating of this guitars you have to unscrew the neck and look at the date could be written below.
1989 - 592XX
1990 -
1991 -
1992 - 601XX --> 618XX
1993 - 619XX --> 912XX
1994 - 166XX --> 183XX
1995 - 191XX --> 244XX
1996 - 257XX --> 261XX
1997 - 273XX --> 294XX
1998 - 301XX --> 357XX
1999 - 339XX --> 369XX
2000 - 379XX --> 387XX
2001 - 388XX --> 416XX
2002 - 402XX
2003 - 4170X
PP = place of manufacture:
K = ESP Kiso Factory (Japan) / set-neck and neck-thru only;
S = ESP Sado Factory (Japan) / bolt-on only;
T = ESP Takada Factory (Japan) / ESP Custom Shop
SS = ESP Standard Factory / Signature Series or Standard Series
CH = Craft House
CS = Craft House (used rarely)
TH = Technical House
N = Nagano Factory
YY = last two digits of the year
WW = week of the year (max.52)
D = day of that week: 1 = monday, 2 = tuesday,... (max.7)
NN = number off the line that day (max.99)
EXAMPLE: the code of my MX-250 K0604202 means the manufacturing date is 24.01.2006 and it was the 2nd guitar built that day.
BNNNNYYP