Antebellum Instruments

Anon: Usually the soundhole dip is caused by loose...

2012-06-01T22:16:36.796-04:00

Anon: Usually the soundhole dip is caused by loose bracing either above or below the soundhole. Trying to remove the dip after you've reglued the braces really is too much work, and your solution is exactly as I'd do it. This is a no-no on fancy guitars, but on cheaper guitars I tend to remove the fretboard extension by cutting it at the 12th fret, then I can easily steam out the neck, reset it at the desired angle and with proper shimming of the joint for good fit, and reinstall the extension with a wedge-shaped insert to bring it back up to the proper angle -- or even skip that last bit if it's assumed it won't get played much past the 12th. Good luck!

Rob: Thanks much! I figured folks might be able to...

2012-06-01T17:00:35.424-04:00

Rob: Thanks much! I figured folks might be able to start understanding how to identify their own gear if they can get a gist of the product lines of these companies and also the build styles. As far as dating -- my dates, unless specific from a serial, cover +5 years from the stated year. Also, just the way the instruments were finished off and the components used in them changed over the years, so it's easier to tell a 1930s Regal tenor vs. a late 1920s one because of this. The depression era guitars of all makes had different priorities -- mostly speed of production, so while they can still be awesome instruments the attention to detail isn't as clear.

Jake, A great new look to the website. The databas...

2012-06-01T15:14:21.605-04:00

Jake,
A great new look to the website. The database looks particularly promising. Despite (or because of?)the sheer volume of information on the web, it appears increasingly difficult to find a concise single source for vintage string instruments.
My personal passion is for small body Regal tenors, about which there seems to be a lot of contradictory information (I've yet to track down Bob Carlin's book). I've never been able to date mine with any degree of confidence - spruce top, mahogany or similar back and sides, yellow label - so am fascinated by your ability to state 1925 or 1930 etc!
Keep up the good work.

I have two of these guitars, but they both have th...

2012-06-01T13:27:30.645-04:00

I have two of these guitars, but they both have the same problem. They both have a dip in the tops around the fingerboard extension. Is there a way to repair this problem, which I assume is pretty common on these after 100+ years of string tension. My thought was it might be easier to just slide a hot knife up under the fingerboard to release the glue and just let the end of the fingerboard float and do a neck reset shaving the neck so that it leans backwards a bit to raise the fingerboard closer to the strings. Trying to get the warp out of the tops seems like too much work.

Francois: I believe these are made by Regal, now. ...

2012-05-31T21:05:09.133-04:00

Francois: I believe these are made by Regal, now. They look a LOT like B&J-labeled Regals from the 30s/40s to me.

You've got it right -- they used them intercha...

2012-05-31T14:33:33.441-04:00

You've got it right -- they used them interchangeably since they're a standard part.

I just got this very same model balalaika there is...

2012-05-26T15:45:58.994-04:00

I just got this very same model balalaika there is a label inside but it's in Russian, however there is a blackbird on the label and the year is stamped 1967....everything is in Russian do I don't have a clue as to the Brand....can anyone help me....my email is derrick.clayton1985@gmail.com

Really nice accordion! :-)

2012-05-24T09:25:17.256-04:00

Really nice accordion! :-)

2012-05-24T04:38:02.894-04:00

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Don't sell it!

2012-05-11T17:24:35.278-04:00

Don't sell it!

I love my little Camp Ukulele. I have been an Oca...

2012-05-11T02:11:37.413-04:00

I love my little Camp Ukulele. I have been an Ocarina Maker for 35 years. I am astounded how this little thing resonates. I have only been playing for 4 months, have collected 5 vintage ukuleles and a Ubass. I am HOOKED, line by sinker.

Thank you for your informative post.
I love my Camp Ukulele MOST!

Sandi
www.clayz.com

Somebody is going to get a crazy good deal on a be...

2012-05-10T12:52:06.481-04:00

Somebody is going to get a crazy good deal on a beautiful pre-war instrument

I have a slightly different version of this same i...

2012-05-10T00:24:36.256-04:00

I have a slightly different version of this same instrument. Fretboard & moustache bridge look like rosewood, not ebony, and top, back & sides are a lighter color which might be birch, maple or spruce. Since your neck is maple, I'm guessing my body may be all maple. No rosette in the soundhole, just a plain black paint "binding." Frets appear to be brass & headstock front is painted black (matching the soundhole binding?) which emphasizes the "Wendell Hall Teeviola" lettering & the Regal logo. Mine is equipped with 4 silver colored geared tuners each anchored by two screws (which might account for the extra drilled holes in yours if mine is an earlier version using different tuners and the outline marks shown in your photo appear to suggest this). On the other hand, if your theory is correct, I suggest that the instrument might have originally been strung as a taropatch rather than a tiple since Wendell Hall mentions another of his signature instruments as a "taraguitar" to be tuned EAC#F#, but no photo of this instrument has ever come to my attention. I would very much like to locate one. Finally, my teeviola has the same sturdy construction and ringing sound that you describe in yours. It's a great tenor ukulele, regardless of what it might have once been. However the scale length on mine is about 2/8"-inch short of 17".

Hi Ron, thanks much! I know how time is, though, m...

2012-05-05T02:28:22.272-04:00

Hi Ron, thanks much! I know how time is, though, man am I shortchanged on it. :D

Thanks for this fine tale. I am only an occasional...

2012-05-04T22:32:11.007-04:00

Thanks for this fine tale. I am only an occasional visitor to your blog, but have to make more time to come by and read what you are up to. I love these stories of renovations/rescues of nice classics.

ron mcmillan

I think so!! :)

2012-05-04T21:40:44.536-04:00

I think so!! :)

Beauty!!!

2012-05-04T21:23:31.060-04:00

Beauty!!!

Man oh man you've got some cool stuff coming u...

2012-05-02T22:44:23.957-04:00

Man oh man you've got some cool stuff coming up!

Scour eBay for one. They pop up now and then. :)

2012-05-02T19:00:29.887-04:00

Scour eBay for one. They pop up now and then. :)

'Camp' was used for the cheaper and later ...

2012-05-02T09:25:42.445-04:00

'Camp' was used for the cheaper and later Gretsch models, but those L&H 'round ones' really are good. There are some versions (flat back/domed back, straight bridge/smiley bridge).

Oh, and a vita uke as well? I've got one with a 'black cloud' headstock decal,...

I have one marked the same but with G. H. & S....

2012-05-02T05:37:15.147-04:00

I have one marked the same but with G. H. & S. Trade Mark Model XXS included in gold lettering.

The whole lot has then been rebranded and over stamp with: Beresford School of Music.

Luckily, the original stamp is still very readable.

Is there any way you can tell me where to get one ...

2012-04-30T22:09:57.345-04:00

Is there any way you can tell me where to get one of these? I used to play one back in 8th grade but it finally fell apart and I absolutely loved it...best cello I've ever played

I have the same guitar. I use it for slide because...

2012-04-30T09:10:45.741-04:00

I have the same guitar. I use it for slide because of it's mellow and baritone sound. Good for playing in open D tuning.

fabulous work, Jake Thank you. Can't wait to ...

2012-04-29T19:15:55.920-04:00

fabulous work, Jake

Thank you. Can't wait to play it.

Ben

Usually a banjo rim is made of several thin lamina...

2012-04-27T23:32:06.016-04:00

Usually a banjo rim is made of several thin laminations of maple or mahogany, all glued up in layers -- sort of like rolling paper up into a tight tube.

Many modern makers (and very few old makers) use block rims where the rim is actually built of many smaller wood pieces glued together in a round-ish shape and then cut and turned on a lathe.