dobro idenification

Hugh Roche · From: Florida, USA

can anyone help me idenify this dobro? the serial number is 8 185 7d
it has some engraving on metal, bound body and headstock, ebony pearl inlayed finger board, and appears to be all mahogany. Any thoughts on its value would be appreciated.[img][/img]

Michael Maddex · From: Northern New Mexico, USA

Hugh, the serial number ending in a single digit followed by a 'D' seems to indicate that it is a 1987 vintage. Maybe someone else can identify the particular model. Some more DobroÂ® ID info here:

http://home.provide.net/~cfh/dobro.html#serial

I have no idea about the value. It looks like it's in good condition and I like the looks of it, so if I was buying I might give $1K or so. Used reso prices seem to be depressed these days.

HTH. Cool

_________________
"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke

Hugh Roche · From: Florida, USA

thx
it has a great powerful sound, any one else?

Jim Konrad · From: The Great Black Swamp USA

Pretty rare and one of the nicest that OMI ever built..

I saw your post on the Hangout too...

<*)))>{

Hugh Roche · From: Florida, USA

thx Jim
this must be one of the last ones made before gibson raped the company any ideas value?

Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

Noice! Hugh, sent you a PM.

Hugh Roche · From: Florida, USA

didn't get the pm Jim

Lee Holliday · From: United Kingdom

I had a round neck version of this, 60M/Mahogany special, more or less went on to become the Jerry Douglas model. I also had a Zephyr, this period is greatly underated in Dobros history with some interesting models.
Most need a good set up to come alive (like replacing the acrylic nut for bone).

Regards

Lee

Hugh Roche · From: Florida, USA

thank you Lee

After further research and comments I was figuring that this was the JD forerunner
I have found one for sale in us at large vintage dealer for 2K, I have thought of selling this one but it actually sounds better and is more powerful than may late 30s model, Rudy Jones lives close to me and i may have him hop it up. thx for your comments.
hr

Ben Elder · From: La Crescenta, California, USA

That it was a Jerry Douglas forerunner can be seen as technically, if coincidentally true because of the mahogany body. The impetus for a JD model came only after Gibson's purchase of OMI and the efforts of general manager Mike Replogle and product/artist rep Richie Owens. Richie has a long resume of music industry accomplishment that includes being born into the musical Owens/Parton family and having spent several years working for Shot Jackson at Sho-Bud on Broadway.

Mike and Richie were both committed to not only trying to re-create what made Dobros great originally, but also to expand innovate and expand OMI offerings drawing on the company's legacy (which is to include legacy instruments from the National, Supro and Valco brands.)

Believe it or not, Tim Scheerhorn was hired to consult OMI about how to improve Dobro instruments from the inconsistencies (euphemism there) that they tended to exhibit in the late eighties and early nineties.

I'm not positive, but I suspect Richie and Jerry were old friends and that he was able to instigate development of the Jerry Douglas model, which actually was a break from Dobro design tradition, at least in that it employed sound posts inside the body (Scheerhorn influence there, I would suspect) instead of the soundwell.

My expertise in this is that I consulted with them on possible acoustic Hawaiian steel designs. Mike's original scheme was kind of and non-resonator version of the Jerry Douglas body. I kept suggesting a Kona or Weissenborn copy but it wasn't until I actually brought in a 20s Kona that they got it. A few Kona models were made but shortly after that, Gibson shut down OMI as part of the consolidation that also reeled in the Gibson/Flatiron Bozeman MT mandolin operation. (I can't resist adding that this questionable strategy pretty much killed the Dobro brand, although the executive geniuses thought it would be a great idea to parasitically appropriate the Dobro lyre logo and fabricate the name "Original Acoustic Instruments" for the entire line of guitars, mandolins, banjos and oh yeah--do we still make resonator guitars?)

I wasn't at the factory every day by any means, but I worked in the months and years even after the Huntington beach facory shutdown with Richie and Mike on Weissenborn- and Kona-style instruments under the name "American Guitar Company." (We were obliquely referencing "National" and even got a mailbox address on National Blvd. in Los Angeles.) In addition to the Konas and Weissenborns, Richie came out with what he called "parlor guitars," actually recreations of early-thirties Gibson L-1 flattops. There are publicity photos and TV appearances of Dolly Parton (Richie's first cousin) playing one of these AGC "parlor" guitars--distinguishable from an old Gibson because the AGC version has a Weissenborn-style batwing bridge.

(Late for breakfast--additions, refinements and editing still to come.)
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Hugh Roche · From: Florida, USA

Ben
I remember Richie from my Ca. days and was out there in la when this was happening. This bracing system you refer to I think is used by R Q Jones and Gann and probably other builders have adopted it. When i was in LA i was not really paying much attention to Steels and Dobros, but as floor manager and a buyer for one of the major chains i remember Gibson approaching us with the line. At that time we declined. I think that Richie was in on one of these meetings but can't remember and I can't put a face on his name. Your information is very informative to all of us on the forum. Any ideas on a fair price for this instrument?
hr

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