RECORDING KING M-2 (1136/1254)
- 16 in. wide body, carved top, maple back and sides, bound top, f-holes, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, pickguard, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. 1937-1941.
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RECORDING KING
The Recording King trademark was the House Brand of Montgomery Wards, and was used on a full range of acoustic flattops, electric lap steels, acoustic and electric archtop guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Instruments were built by a number of American manufacturers such as Gibson, Gretsch, and Kay between the 1930s through the early 1940s.
The high end models of the Recording King line were built by Gibson, but the low end models were built by other Chicago-based manufacturers. Recording King models built by Gibson will not have an adjustable truss rod (like other budget brands Gibson produced). Chances are that the low end, Chicago-built models do not either. Recording King had a number of endorsers, such as singing cowboy movie star Ray Whitley, country singer/songwriter Carson Robison, and multi-instrumental virtuoso Roy Smeck. Source: Walter Carter, Gibson Guitars: 100 Years of an American Icon.
The high end models of the Recording King line were built by Gibson, but the low end models were built by other Chicago-based manufacturers. Recording King models built by Gibson will not have an adjustable truss rod (like other budget brands Gibson produced). Chances are that the low end, Chicago-built models do not either. Recording King had a number of endorsers, such as singing cowboy movie star Ray Whitley, country singer/songwriter Carson Robison, and multi-instrumental virtuoso Roy Smeck. Source: Walter Carter, Gibson Guitars: 100 Years of an American Icon.
Instruments previously produced in Kalamazoo, MI by Gibson, and in Chicago, IL by Kay, and New York, NY by Gretsch between the mid-1930s and the early 1940s. See chapter on House Brands.
RECORDING KING Acoustic Guitars Models
RECORDING KING M-3/TONE CREST (1103/1137/1228/1282/1283)
- 16 in. wide body, carved top, maple back and sides, tortoiseshell body binding, f-holes, bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, cream pickguard, available in Natural (1283) or Sunburst (1282) finish, mfg. 1936-1941.
RECORDING KING M-4 (1123)
- 16 in. wide body, carved top, maple back and sides, mahogany neck, body binding, f-holes, bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, bound peghead with 3-per-side tuners, bound pickguard, available in Natural or Sunburst finish, mfg. 1937...
RECORDING KING M-5 (1285)
- 16 in. wide body, carved top, maple back and sides, checkered top binding, single bound back, f-holes, bound rosewood fingerboard with diamond inlay, pickguard, checkered bound peghead with diamond and block inlays, chrome plated hardware...
RECORDING KING M-5 (1124)
- 16 in. wide body, carved top, maple back and sides, checkered top binding, single bound back, f-holes, five-piece maple neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with three-piece inlay of rectangles and dots, pickguard, bound peghead with pearl in...
RECORDING KING M-5 (1121)
- 17 in. wide body, carved top, maple back and sides, five-ply top binding, three-ply back binding, f-holes, five-piece maple neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with large diamond inlays, pickguard, unbound peghead with reverse...