~1940 Beltone Reso Chamber Mahogany

Beltone Mandolin c 1940 | $195 | (v2310) This is a pretty cool vintage mandolin that plays and sounds great, with good looks to boot! Beltone was a brand of student-level instruments made by various guitar factories through the mid-twentieth century. Based on construction features, we'd guess this one was made by the United Guitar Corp. located on Johnston Ave in Jersey City, NJ, although Regal made a version, too. United had some ties to the well known Oscar Schmidt operation.

The back, top and sides are made from mahogany ply and stained to give the wood a grained effect. There is a thin divider between the body and 'resonator' section creating two air chambers, with eighteen screened sound ports around the perimeter. The top is trimmed in white paint. The neck is likely poplar featuring a painted maple board with five inlaid pearl position dots. The head stock features the 'Beltone' name in bright orange-red letters.

Scale length is 14 1/8". The neck measures 1 3/16" across at the nut, and string spacing at the saddle measures 1 9/16". The neck is carved in a comfortably soft 'V'.

The mandolin appears to be all original, with only a missing pick guard, with perhaps a replaced bridge. The tuners function well. There are no apparent repairs but for a bit of white touch-up along the binding edge. The fingerboard stain/paint is faded.

The mandolin is surprisingly light in weight, plays well with good action and produces a bright, ringing sound. A vintage piece of mando history at a bargain price.

Comes with a soft case.