Regal RC-51 Metal Body Tricone Resonator
Overview
The Regal RC-51 is a tricone resonator guitar that offers the sweet, piano-like sustain and complex harmonic overtones of the tricone design at a price point well below hand-built American alternatives. The German silver body houses three six-inch spun cones connected by a T-shaped aluminum bridge, producing the warm, bell-like tone with extended sustain that distinguishes tricones from their single-cone counterparts. Where single-cone resonators tend toward a brash, biting attack, the RC-51 delivers a more refined, almost orchestral voice that is equally suited for fingerstyle blues, Hawaiian slack-key, and acoustic jazz. The 12-fret neck join gives the guitar a traditional resonator aesthetic and positions the picking hand directly over the cones for optimal tone and projection. The hand-engraved cover plate adds visual elegance that belies the instrument's accessible price, and the overall craftsmanship is surprisingly good for an imported tricone at this level. The rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlays plays comfortably, and the sealed-gear tuning machines hold tuning well. Build quality is solid, with attention to the critical cone assembly and bridge alignment that determines resonator performance. This guitar is ideal for intermediate players who are drawn to the tricone's unique tonal character and want to explore this format without the cost of a National or Scheerhorn. The stamped cones, while good, do not match the tonal refinement and dynamic response of hand-spun cones found on premium tricone instruments.
Resonator Guitars
Tricone resonator with German silver body and three six-inch cones producing sweet, piano-like sustain and bell-like harmonic overtones at an accessible price.
Instrument Details
$849
Intermediate
Brand
Regal
Type
Tricone Resonator Guitar
Made In
South Korea
Year
2008
