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Thread: Regal Octophone

  1. #1

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    I have a '30's era Regal Octophone that is beyond repair. I really like the look of it, so I thought I might build a reproduction. My question is whether the instrument was decent enough to even bother with the project? Obviously, if it were a real dog I would pass on the project. For anyone that owns one, or has played one, is there anything you would change about the instrument to make it better? For example, shallower body, different scale?

  2. #2
    Registered User steve V. johnson's Avatar
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    I just talked to a pal who is an experienced om/zoukist, who has recently played an Octophone that was either restored or in great original condition, and he reports that it sounded wonderful. He was amazed at the light, fragile construction and the volume it produced.

    I've never seen a healthy one, only those found in the back of antique shops, cracked and crusted, or broken...

    You might post this question over in the Builders' section... I think some of the woodbutchers over there may have some more interesting comments.

    All the best,

    stv
    steve V. johnson

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    ISO TEKNO delsbrother's Avatar
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    There's one at Buffalo Brothers. Though I didn't play it, it didn't look to be in too bad shape. I had just visited the nearby Museum of Making Music (the NAMM Museum) and they had an exhibit showing a full-sized billboard advertising the Octophone! Whodathunkit?

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    What is the scale length of a Regal Octophone?
    Mike Plunkett

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    Come on, I refuse to believe that no one here knows the scale length of a Regal Octophone. Every question posted here gets an answer doesn't it? I thought you guys were The Ultimate Maando Resource. Don't let us down!
    Mike Plunkett

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  8. #8
    ISO TEKNO delsbrother's Avatar
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    If no one answers by next week I can measure the one at BBros.

  9. #9

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    Its 21 inches give or take and mine sounds great. I prefer a thinner neck tho with my short fingers so it hardly ever gets played anymore. My first tenor guitar relegated it to the music room wall for the most part. I've been meaning to sell it but i wanna do some work on it first and haven't had time....yet another project awaiting the time. (needs a new bridge nade, cleaned up, and a set-up) With winter coming i should get caught up tho. I hate being in the cold!
    Look up (to see whats comin down)

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