The first of my 'vintage' resonator guitars is this little red reissue, made in 1995. People always ask about it when I play-probably because of the bright red color.

The history of this 'dobro' started started in the mid-1930's as the over-burdened National-Dobro corporation was unable to keep up with the demand for these louder resonators (nowadays referred to as Nationals or Dobros). Chicago-based Regal was contracted to build some of the models, mostly the cheaper Duolian and Triolian. And don't ask me where those names came from! My RD3 is a Triolian-style with a 9 1/2 inch spun resonator cone with a biscuit bridge and a maple body.

Regal makes this guitar today, just as Nationals and Dobros are, however they are sometimes frowned upon because they are made in Japan. Some of the best Telecasters and Stratocasters are made there!?! I guess the biggest gripe could be re-sale value and maybe the fact that this 1995 Regal will not ever be a 'vintage' guitar by American standards. British 'Guitar' magazine says in a 1996 article "This superior-quality model is noted for its authentic blues sound…" The builder says it's made to original specifications and I say it's a heck of a nice guitar!

Back in the 'olden times' blues musicians played some pretty cheap (inexpensive) instruments. Leadbelly had his 12-string Stella, who knows what guitars Charlie Patton and Willie Brown played. Some people, like Memphis Minnie, Big Bill Broonzy, playing well into the 30's and 40's, were making money-enough money to afford Gibsons and Nationals, but more on that later. I feel good playing a working-man's guitar! Chris Thomas King, a singer-actor just coming into popularity now was featured on the cover of June 2000 Blues Revue magazine with a new, cheap (inexpensive), Regal. It's beautiful!

I outfitted my RD3 with a Barcus Berry 2530 humbucking magnetic pickup. I opened for Poco in 1997 and spoke with Rusty Young there. He's got one on his Dobro, plugged directly into a Fender Twin - tons o' power! Mine has such a powerful punch to it I've got to use some pretty tough amplification to take the guts that this baby puts out!

Being a solo performer, I've played through some smaller amps (read about those items), Fender, Vox, Crate and Bedrock. The signal chain is simple: Danelectro Dan Echo digital delay, with the tone way down (got the old Echo-plex tape machine sound!) into a RealTube rackmount tube preamp into my Bedrock Royale or 1966 Vox Pacemaker with tube Tremelo. Tubes! Tubes! Tubes! Stand to close to the amps and this guitar starts to sing all by itself. I put a Shure SM57 out front to pick up some natural guitar sound.

There will be more history about National, Dobro, and Regal in other gearhead articles - keep in touch!

My review of this guitar on Harmony Central:
www.harmony-central.com