Restoration of a Regal 1930s Domino guitar. with video

Hi, this guitar was also left with me as it was too expensive for the customer to have the considerable amount of work done that was needed to make the guitar stable and playable. My aim was not to fully restore, but just do what was needed while still keeping the war wounds of age visible. Keeping its character.

1 – This is how I received the guitar. Many open splits in the top and a neck that needed resetting.

2 - Unglued braces on the back and top, split braces, and bad past repairs all had to be put right. I did this working through the soundhole as I did not want to remove the back on this job.

3 – The bridge was in a sad state as was the bridge plate inside. The bridge plate was replaced, and the original bridge was saved by restoration.

4 – Frets were good so just polished, the fingerboard was left original but cleaned up, and new plastic binding was fitted. As mentioned the neck was removed and reset.

5 – Here the bracing and the cleats reinforcing the splits and cracks are glued and clamped.

6 – The old screws holding the bridge were replaced with more suitable bolts and nuts but still look like the original repair…

7 – The bridge is cleaned up and the worn-out pin holes are redrilled and plugged ready for resizing for new bridge pins.

8 – Fingerboard cleaned up, new neck binding fitted, frets polished, and all cracks in the top repaired. I also reused the original tuning machines.

9 – All done, now it’s a daily player. I did not intend to hide the signs of wear and tear, just make this old guitar stable and playable.

It’s a very loud guitar with a great old-timey tone, I play it as a slide guitar style. It's all original: the nut, machines, frets, and the bridge. Oops! Bridge pins are not original.

Here's a video of the guitar being played. Again a first take, just give ya'll a listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI-4Q38p0Rg

Quiz… Who was the performer who used a Regal domino-like this one that sold for $30,000?

Sorry, no prizes.
Cheers Taff