1940s Regal Recording King Archtop Electric Sunburst

A swinging jazz box, and a down and dirty blues box in one instrument!

A super fascinating archtop electric from a storied period of instrument manufacturing. During this period of time, a lot of instruments were made under various brands. This example was more than likely manufactured by Regal for Recording King, a house brand of Montgomery Ward (a chain of department stores in the US). 

However, this example with it's unique electronics layout and fingerboard inlays is not so straight cut. There are few examples of Recording King archtop guitars from this time possessing three dots, and even less featuring this specific pickup and configuration. Close references include the Fascinator 4970 (another umbrella brand during the time) which featured an entirely similar body and fretboard design minus a pickup. Outside of a screw securing the tailpiece to the body, this example appears to be all original. 

Has a super exaggerated V-neck profile, with some serious chunk. Feels great however, and plays superbly for its age. The pickup appears to be a super early and primitive single bar single coil (not super far off from the one on Charlie Christians guitars). Sounds honky with fairly little low end. A unique sound, but super cool nonetheless!

Plenty of wear, dings, and checking throughout with some notable buckle rash on the back of the body. There is also a little part where the binding has come loose (see photos). Playability is good, and appears to currently have nickel wound electric strings. We think this would be even better with a heavier set of flatwounds, or acoustic phosphor bronze strings. Includes a case.