
( Brand: Harmony ), ( Manufacturer Part Number: R205 ), ( Body Type: Grand Auditorium ), ( Body Color: Brown And Black ), ( Neck Material: Birch ), ( Series: Regal ), ( Handedness: Right-handed ), ( Type: Acoustic Guitar ), ( Model Year: 1965 ), ( String Configuration: 6 String ), ( Fretboard Material: Maple ), ( Country Of Origin: United States )
The Fender Regal R205 acoustic guitar is an exquisite homage to a classic instrument from Fender's illustrious past. This 1965 reissue transports guitar enthusiasts back to a golden era of music, delivering a rich, authentic sound and an appealing aesthetic.
Body and Construction:The Regal R205 features a solid Sitka spruce top, which provides excellent resonance and projection, along with a solid mahogany back and sides. The combination of these tonewoods results in a balanced and warm sound that is ideal for various music genres. The instrument boasts a classic dreadnought body shape, offering a generous soundboard area that enhances the guitar's volume and bass response.
Neck and Fingerboard:The neck of the Fender Regal R205 is crafted from mahogany, ensuring stability and robustness. It sports a traditional 14-fret design, and the scale length is 25.3 inches. The fingerboard is made of richlite, a sustainable and eco-friendly material, with 20 frets and pearloid dot inlays. The guitar's nut and saddle are made of synthetic bone, ensuring optimal intonation and string vibration.
Hardware and Finish:The Fender Regal R205 comes equipped with a vintage-style bridge and a compensated synthetic bone saddle. The bridge pins are made of ivoroid, adding to the guitar's vintage appeal. The guitar's tuning machines are vintage-style open-gear, ensuring reliable tuning stability. The instrument is finished with a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, which not only enhances the natural beauty of the wood but also allows the guitar to breathe and resonate freely.
Other Features:Additional features of the Fender Regal R205 include a tortoiseshell pickguard, vintage-style control knobs, and a hand-rubbed, satin-nitrocellulose finish on the back and sides, adding to the instrument's vintage character. The guitar comes with a deluxe gig bag for easy transportation and protection.
In summary, the Fender Regal R205 acoustic guitar is an exceptional instrument, offering a rich, authentic sound and an appealing vintage aesthetic. It is an ideal choice for guitarists who seek a timeless instrument that delivers a classic sound and captivating appearance.
a. Vintage Appeal: The Harmony R205 Fender Regal acoustic guitar boasts a classic 1960s design, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a vintage look and feel.
b. Affordable: Compared to some high-end acoustic guitars, the Harmony R205 is relatively affordable, making it an accessible option for beginners and hobbyists.
c. Spruce Top: The solid spruce top provides excellent tone projection and responsiveness, contributing to a rich, full sound.
d. X-bracing: The X-bracing design enhances the guitar's structural stability and allows for better sound transfer from the top to the body.
e. Playability: Many players praise the Harmony R205 for its comfortable neck and decent playability, making it a suitable instrument for both practice and performance.
2. Cons:a. Action: Some players have reported issues with the guitar's factory-set action, which may require adjustments for optimal playability.
b. Finish: The finish on some Harmony R205 guitars may not be of the highest quality, which can lead to chips or scratches over time.
c. Tuning Stability: While generally acceptable, some players have noted that the guitar may require frequent tuning, especially in humid environments.
d. Bridge: The bridge on the Harmony R205 can be susceptible to warping, which can affect intonation and overall tuning stability.
Conclusion:The Harmony R205 1965 Fender Regal acoustic guitar offers a unique blend of vintage appeal, affordability, and decent playability. However, it also comes with some drawbacks, such as potential issues with the factory-set action, finish quality, tuning stability, and bridge.
Recommendation:If you're looking for an affordable, vintage-style acoustic guitar for practice or performance, the Harmony R205 could be a worthy consideration. However, be prepared to invest some time and money in potential repairs or adjustments to optimize its playability and overall performance. Alternatively, you might consider exploring other options within a similar price range to find a guitar that better suits your specific needs and preferences.
This beautiful guitar is all solid birch and the way from year 1965. It has also received a recent neck reset so the angle is at good position. It is a vintage Regal R205, made for Fender by the Harmony Company in Chicago, IL. It is in solid condition with only a few minor dings, scratches, and blemishes.
This old time guitar plays smooth and easy with new D'Dario EJ13 80/20 bronze custom light gauge strings to go along its classic look sound.