Regal Musical Instrument Company



The Regal Musical Instrument Company was established in 1908 in Chicago. By the 1930s, they were one of the largest manufacturers of musical instruments in the world.

Regal specialised in:


 * All types of chordophone, sold under the Regal name.
 * As Original Equipment Manufacturer for a number of US and international musical instrument distributors
 * Custom-built instruments, produced for professional musicians in the Regal custom shop.

Regal was heavily involved in the production of resonator fretted instruments from their first development until 1941, manufacturing components and bodies for both the National String Instrument Corporation and the Dobro Manufacturing Company which they acquired in 1934, thought the Dopyera brothers still produced the resonator cones for them. The bodies of their Laminated bellied guitars were particularly suited to resonator conversion.

Production of resonator guitars ceased in 1941, and of all fretted instruments in 1954. However, in 1965, Fender distributed five models of banjo under the Regal name, as the exclusive distributors.

In 1987 the Regal name and trademark reappeared as a brand of Saga Musical Instruments. most often on their resonator guitars,

Previous users of the Regal name

 * Emil Wulschner & Son, Indianapolis, used the Regal brand name c.1884-1901.
 * The new owners of Emil Wulschner & Son renamed the company the "Regal Musical instrument Manufacturing Company" in 1901 and continued using the Regal name on instruments through 1904.
 * Lyon & Healy bought the rights to the Regal name and Wulschner's remaining stock in 1904 and owned it until setting Regal up as an independent company in 1924.
 * Harmony took over the brand name and all of the factories in 1954 when Regal Musical Instruments as a company closed down.
 * Fender acquired the Regal name in the late 50's and did use it on some guitars for a short while thereafter.
 * In an effort to reintroduce the brand to global markets and focusing on overseas production sources, Saga Musical Instruments acquired the Regal name in 1987 and has steadily produced a complete line of metal and wood body resophonic instruments.