Dave F Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) A couple years ago I took a chance on EBay and bought an old Recording King with the neck wobbling as loose as a goose. Got a good price and figured if nothing else I could sell the hardware and break even. I was amazed when I got it, it looked like it never got played, no fret wear. Cosmetic wise I would give it a 9.5. I looked in my Regal reference book and nailed it down to a 1941 Regal Recording King sold through Montgomery Ward. 16" body, solid carved top, spruce top, northern maple back and sides. Besides the loose neck, the only other issue was the buttons on the tuners with one missing and the metal looking dip or paint wearing off the plastic buttons. When I took off the tuner trays the tuners were the best looking, no wear Klusons I've seen from this era. I decided to get it fixed. I bought a new set of Kluson nickle tuners and put them on. I took the original set and put new buttons on them and sold them to the owner of W D Music, the American distributor for Kluson's explaining how I got them. This covered 80% of what I had into the guitar. I then dropped it off to Jamonn Zeiler who I use for everything I'm not comfortable doing, he's a great repairman-luthier, lives in Indiana. I told him no hurry, he took me literally. He caters to all the local working musicians with quick repair turn around, otherwise you wait your turn. He finished it this last week and I picked it up today. I'm blown away with the play-ability and tone, plus a big neck that is one of the most comfortable necks I've ever played. Recently I've downsized a lot and most left because of their necks. Measurement-wise I should not like this, but I do. Neck thickness at 1st - 1.024", at 10th - 1,259", nut width 1.866", 4.8 lbs. Must be the carve of the deep vee. When Jamonn had the neck off he checked it out. No truss rod of any kind (metal, wood). The original case is in excellent condition. I put an SJ in it and it fits good. Here's some pictures Edited June 6, 2022 by Dave F 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jricc Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Whoa Dave! That is freaking gorgeous. Would love to hear what that beaut sounds like. Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) Lawdy, that purchase certainly worked out for the better. I have always called those "valve covers." I believe National also used them on certain guitars. But I once bought a Regal-made Recording King flattop featured in that same catalog precisely to get those tuners. The guitar (which cost me $36) was itself not salvageable without spending a ton of money but the tuners being protected were in fantastic condition. These though had brass cogs. Those tuners now adorn my 1942 J50. Edited June 6, 2022 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 3 minutes ago, zombywoof said: I have always called those "valve covers." I once bought a Regal-made Recording King flattop featured in that same catalog precisely to get those tuners. The guitar (which cost me $36) was itself not salvageable without spending a ton of money but the tuners being protected were in fantastic condition. These though had brass cogs. Those tuners now adorn my 1942 J50. I picked up a junker last year with those "valve covers". They had the Klusons with the peened cogs so I'm guessing '44-'46. I've seen newer Waterloo Montgomery Ward Regal reissues using those covers. https://www.waterlooguitars.com/wl-jk-deluxe/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 13 minutes ago, Dave F said: I picked up a junker last year with those "valve covers". They had the Klusons with the peened cogs so I'm guessing '44-'46. I've seen newer Waterloo Montgomery Ward Regal reissues using those covers. https://www.waterlooguitars.com/wl-jk-deluxe/ Harmony was going with three on a plate riveted Klusons later in 1942 (they are on my H165 Stella with an S 42 date stamp) but they generally do not start appearing on Gibsons until about one year later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J185cat Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 That one is a winner. Cannot believe how great it looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 That’s a beaut! QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Cool score. That has a huge pickguard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Even the celluloid pickguard appears to be in near-perfect condition. What a rare beast! Remember that this is just about the time that the first J-45 was about to come out at a price of $45. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) 28 minutes ago, j45nick said: Even the celluloid pickguard appears to be in near-perfect condition. What a rare beast! Remember that this is just about the time that the first J-45 was about to come out at a price of $45. I love how we think these things we play and buy have these numbers with some mystical meaning, and most times all it is is just a price they started charging for it back then. Board room meeting (Gibson or Martin) - So we are making a new model guitar, and we are charging $45 for it. What should we call it. I've got it a J-45. Wow you really used all of your brain on that. None of my Martin's were ever named after something cool. Just a letter and a number designation. A Martin Velociraptor would be much cooler. It could have a little baby Raptor arm on the headstock. Edited June 6, 2022 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) I got curious and took a look inside. Fabric around the f-holes and a large single x-brace centered to the f-holes. I was also interested in where the weight was coming from. I have limitations on measuring the top thickness but for what I can measure it varied from .198" thick to .286" thick. Edited June 7, 2022 by Dave F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 (edited) What is the metal for under the tuners on the back of the H/S? Is it to hang it on a bracket? Edited June 7, 2022 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted June 7, 2022 Author Share Posted June 7, 2022 7 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: What is the metal for under the tuners on the back of the H/S? Is it to hang it on a bracket? Looking at the sale ad, it looks like where they attached the guitar cord (strap) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 6 minutes ago, Dave F said: Looking at the sale ad, it looks like where they attached the guitar cord (strap) Makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 Wow. Like it came out of a time machine. So lovely. Enjoy it lots. Red 333 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 22 hours ago, Dave F said: I got curious and took a look inside. Fabric around the f-holes and a large single x-brace centered to the f-holes. I was also interested in where the weight was coming from. I have limitations on measuring the top thickness but for what I can measure it varied from .198" thick to .286" thick. All that fabric couldn't have helped the top resonate, you wouldn't think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gasman Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 Simply Stunning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 Amazing - that guitar doesn't look 7 years old leave alone 70! We can all see that it looks fantastic, and you said the neck is comfortable for you to play, so what does it sound like? Hopefully it sounds much better than the average $20 guitar 😜 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 A beauty in beautiful surroundings. I try to imagine the sound- but hear the little fountain and a few ducks instead. Be 'appy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted June 8, 2022 Author Share Posted June 8, 2022 4 hours ago, j45nick said: All that fabric couldn't have helped the top resonate, you wouldn't think. Nor that thick top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted June 8, 2022 Author Share Posted June 8, 2022 3 hours ago, Twang Gang said: Amazing - that guitar doesn't look 7 years old leave alone 70! We can all see that it looks fantastic, and you said the neck is comfortable for you to play, so what does it sound like? Hopefully it sounds much better than the average $20 guitar 😜 A very sweet maple tone that I like from a 81 year old guitar. I think it's not very loud but I haven't have someone else play it and listen at a distance or recorded it to compare to some other maple. I currently have a set of Silk and Steel on it. I have two other f-hole carved spruce top acoustic guitars with maple (L5 and Super 400) I plan on comparing the tone. My most disappointing maple f-hole was one of the recent Gibson L1 F-hole. It was very lacking on tone and sound, sounded like a $20 guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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