Slingerland/May Bell Stringed Instruments

I recently found several old May Bell guitars at an estate sale. On the last day of the sale everything was 50% off. I passed up 2 old May Bell f-hole guitars that were in great condition. I could have gotten one for $50 and the other for $37.50. Now that I have done some research, I could kick myself for passing on these. Even though I know guitars, I did not know enough about the May Bells.

I just opened a music store in Fort Qu'Appelle sask Canada and I have acquired a May Bell mandolin. It is in rough shape as the side has come unglued at the seam at the bottom. It has an oval hole and looks much like the one in the 1936 catalogue on this site. When I get it back from the repair shop I will send a picture

I inherited my Uncle Dan's 1920's Slingerland MayBell Guitar Style 1, Size 0. It needs a lot of work but I found a guy who's been in the guitar repair business for 35 years and says he will restore to new condition (and warranty it for life) for about $400. Does anyone one know the value of this guitar....will it be worth the $400 restoration cost? Any information you can provide is appreciated.

Hi, i have a slingerland guitar. there are no markings on it other than the name on the headstock. It looks very similar to a grover deluxe i found on ebay but it has a different tailpiece. im curious to know what its worth and any thing else you may know about it. thanks

My father use to play professionally in the big band era. He played at the main night club in down town Cleveland, Ohio in the 1930 and 1940's and was the lead singer and guitar player. I still have his guitar and music. I have no idea of its value. It plays perfect and is in great condition. If you are interested in any other information contact me back.

My Grandfather handed down a small spanish May-Bell guitar that my dad (when he was young) put on it a decal of Roy Rogers and Trigger, when he was starting in films. The guitar must be over 55 years old.
It has a rounded head, ivory machine thumbs and ivory neck spots, decaled plain soundhole rings and an ivory soundhole inner-ring.
I would be interested in hearing from you, I might be able to dig more info about this guitar. Tx RJ

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My father found a may bell guitar at a garage sale and wanted to see what the value of it is. thank you

I own a banjo-ukulele that was bought in 1918. In near mint condition. Would you like to buy it?

Does anyone have info on the fancy Maybell Slingerland with a pink pearliod fingerboard and painting on the top? I am going to look at one someone called me about and trying to figure out what to pay for it.

hello Dave, j have recently bought a slingerland songster guitar from elderly Music, on the net,the strings j am using is electric jazz flat wound strings 011,etc,,they didnt sound that good to me,can you please give me recomendation of strinsgs that fit?J am from Sweden,nice to have a guitar of this kind anyway.

sincerely Stefan

I have an old May Bell guitar. It has the nickel plate on the front, but I've read that these guitars do not have a resonator like a real dobro. I call it my "pseudo-dobro." It roughly resembles the Slingerland "Cathedranola" pictured on page 47 of Tony Bacon's "History of the American Guitar," but it is black, the neck is different, and it does not have a trapeze tailpiece.

Steve Gossard

This popular thread has been given its own page : Maybell Guitar

This popular thread has been given its own page : maybell guitar

hi i live in holland and i have just bought a 1938 slingerland may bell from a friend of mine i play guitar in a rockabilly / hillbilly band and sometimes use it in the band, it also came with an original advertisement cutting from a newspaper its a very nice guitar

I have a Maybell Sunburst Archtop with f-holes and pickguard in excellent condition, except that I lost the pickguard before I could remount it.

A Slingerland Nighthawk guitar will be sold at Cowan's Auctions, Inc. on May 27-28. Please check www.cowanauctions.com for more info.

Thanks.

My father in law has a maybell guitar tht belonged to his father. He says it was made in the twenties. It is in fairly decent condition except that the bridge is damaged but it still plays.

I have a slingerland songster that i bought several years ago from and older gentleman from California who claimed that there were very few of them made, and the wear on the back of this guitar came from when it was loaned to hank williams senior. It has a flight case with it, and i would be willing to sell it for the right price. It is in decent condition and is playable, i want to buy more gear as my Larrivee DVO5E was recently stolen. Thanks CMcB

I have a Regal Mandolin and would like to send a picture to someone to see if they can tell me how old it is. Can you advise?

I picked up a Songster archtop with a birds eye maple back.It also has tortise shell binding on the body.However the neck is bound in white.Any information on this guitar,or one simular would be great.

Mr. Kolars,
A friend of mine has a maybell guitar and we are woundering who built it. The guitar does not have any markings on it other than maybell. We know that slingerland sold the guitar but would like to find out where and who made it.
thank you
tony

This popular thread has been given its own page : May Bell mandolin