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Topic: Reviving a 1970s OMI Dobro Model 60-D -- Update |
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 3 May 2016 9:29 am |
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My disassembled mid-1970s OMI 60-D square-neck Dobro has been in pieces since about 1986 (it's a long story). I plan to put it back together in the near future. Two questions:
1) Would it be best to reassemble the instrument with its original cone and spider, or could it be substantially improved using modern aftermarket components.
2) Is there a book or online resource available that would comprehensively explain the intricacies of setting up a Dobro for lap-style playing in standard G tuning.
Last edited by Jack Hanson on 30 Jan 2017 9:31 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Chris Bauer
From:
Nashville, TN USA
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Posted 3 May 2016 9:36 am
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| Tim Scheerhorn set my 70s OMI up and, in the process, he put in one of his cones as well as making a new nut and inserts for it. It's a whole new (waaaay better) instrument. |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 3 May 2016 10:21 am
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The spider will be fine. Assuming the guitar is structurally sound you'll need cone, inserts & nut.
As previously mentioned, the Beard set up DVD is the way to go.
A guitar of that vintage will be expected to have the top egged out a bit. Reso luthiers deal with that by routing the top. That'll make the opening perfect, even out the cone shelf and allow the guitar to take a modern 10 9/16 inch dia cone.
If you don't have the knowledge or tools your option is to trim the cone to fit.
Pre-slotted nut blanks and insert blanks are also available from Beard/Resophonic Outfitters.
h
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 3 May 2016 10:25 am
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No two ways about it as mentioned above, a modern cone with a new nut and bridge inserts are a no-brainer.
You could buy a modern spider as well, but the original spider is most likely what Dobro referred to as a #14, and Paul Beard took over the manufacturing of these a number of years ago - so they are essentially a modern version of the same thing.
But it couldn't hurt to put in a new spider - the original being an aluminum alloy might have "fatigued" over the years, and being aluminum, there is a possibility of corrosion. Or it might be just fine.
Stewart-MacDonald has online Dobro setup instructions which are quite good:
http://www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/?search=dobro%20setup&tabs=2&tpage=0
If you don't mind forking out 30 bucks, I highly recommend Paul Beard's setup video linked below - well worth it. For that matter, you can get everything you need for the project from Paul's sister business Resophonic Outfitters which will help with the freight rather than using multiple sources, and a phone call to them to get all the right stuff to upgrade an OMI Dobro would be a very good thing for you to do:
http://www.resophonicoutfitters.com/product/BDVD-58.html
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Mark
Last edited by Mark Eaton on 3 May 2016 10:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 3 May 2016 10:27 am
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As usual, Howard and I were posting about the same time. It's uncanny. And we are about 3000 miles apart...
As he wrote, the spider most likely will be fine, but I offered my comments "just in case."
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Mark |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 3 May 2016 10:32 am
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Robert Allen
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 4 May 2016 8:51 am
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| Ken Pippus wrote: |
| 1) Sound would almost certainly be better with a Beard, Scheerhorn, or Quarterman cone, and a modern spider. |
Depends on the sound you want. I tried a Quarterman cone in my old Dobro and didn't like the sound. I wouldn't trade my old stamped cone for a dozen modern cones of any brand. However, I understand most Dobro players today don't like the old style traditional sound. |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 4 May 2016 8:54 am
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| I think an "old" 1935 cone is a different issue than an "old" 1975 cone. Those later ones don't have a lot of fans. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 4 May 2016 9:26 am
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| Ken Pippus wrote: |
| I think an "old" 1935 cone is a different issue than an "old" 1975 cone. Those later ones don't have a lot of fans. |
Good point Ken. I still have the lug cone in my early '30s Calif. - built Dobro and in there it will stay. But I can also see experimenting with a modern cone just to check it out and for fun.
Two schools of thought on prewar Dobros and their cones:
1. Don't mess with it
2. You might like a modern cone in there better.
Jerry Douglas has been touring the world with his excellent band playing the music of Flatt & Scruggs, The Earls of Leicester. They even won a Grammy last year for their first album, the followup will be released in July. I've seen them live three times now.
Jerry plays a couple of mid 1930s Regal-built Dobros with The Earls. When Paul Beard was giving them fresh setups he installed Beard Legend cones in the guitars. I don't know about anyone else, but I love the tone in the video below of Jerry "out standing in his field" playing solo on one of the "hot rodded" vintage Dobros. This was a promotional video for the Fresh Grass festival in Massachusetts. Jerry's comment after having the Legend cone installed was something along the lines of "these old guitars have gotten a new lease on life."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6SEwGlOqeY
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Mark |
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Dave Thier
From:
Fairhope, Alabama, USA
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Posted 4 May 2016 12:54 pm
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| Another vote here for modern spun cones, especially in that 70's Dobro. Stamped cones sound dead to my ears, thin and no volume. I would be willing to bet that it's easier to make a modern cone sound like an old one than the other way around. |
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2017 9:30 am
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Thanks to all above for furnishing their expert advise and pertinent information. I am finally to the stage of ordering and gathering the parts and fittings to reassemble my old OMI Model 60-D.
I have decided to install a new cone, spider, nut, and bridge inserts from Resophonic Outfitters. In essence, all I have is the body, neck, neck shim, the neck fasteners, tailpiece with screw and button, screens, and the coverplate screws. The original cone, spider, and coverplate are buried in a storage unit about 1200 miles from my present domicile.
Some questions pertaining to the coverplate: What is its effect on the overall sound of the instrument? Would one notice a substantial difference in sound quality between one of Beard's lovely coverplates and the generic $20.00 Chinese imports? Would one of the cheap imports be an adequate surrogate until I am able to retrieve the original?
Thanks in advance for your opinions and recommendations. |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 30 Jan 2017 11:26 am
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The import cover plates will have a different mounting pattern so you'll have to re drill the top to accommodate.
h
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 30 Jan 2017 11:56 am
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| Howard Parker wrote: |
The import cover plates will have a different mounting pattern so you'll have to re drill the top to accommodate.
h |
That being the case I would just bite the bullet and get the $50 imported coverplate from Beard, and since it is carried in the Resophonic Outfitters store I assume it has the appropriate pattern - unless you know that you can get to your storage unit fairly soon to retrieve the original but obviously Jack is the only one who can answer that question. Bearing in mind your story about the guitar being disassembled for decades, and your storage unit sounds like it's close to halfway across the country - we all know what the road to Hell is paved with: good intentions. 
You're already spending a chunk of money on parts, so another 30 bucks at this point seems like it's not inappropriate for having a drop in plate vs. having to drill a new set of holes for a $20 coverplate. And the imported coverplate from Beard as used on the Gold Tone/Beard guitars is pretty nice, but I have seen some of those $20 jobs they are selling on eBay and they can be pretty cheesy.
Soundwise? Right off I think in the grand scheme of things switching a coverplate providing the replacement has a similar or identical hole pattern like the classic "fan" - or even if it is a different design - will be barely perceptible. Pro resonator luthiers, depending who you talk to, will say that the cone itself accounts for anywhere from 50% to 80% of a guitar's tone. And other significant items are the spider bridge, the inserts, and the nut.
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Mark |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2017 1:25 pm
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| Quote: |
| I wouldn't trade my old stamped cone for a dozen modern cones of any brand. |
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"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2017 2:44 pm
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| Howard Parker wrote: |
| The import cover plates will have a different mounting pattern so you'll have to re drill the top to accommodate. |
That's great to know, Howard. Thanks once again. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2017 3:16 pm
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| Mark Eaton wrote: |
That being the case I would just bite the bullet and get the $50 imported coverplate from Beard, and since it is carried in the Resophonic Outfitters store I assume it has the appropriate pattern - unless you know that you can get to your storage unit fairly soon to retrieve the original but obviously Jack is the only one who can answer that question. Bearing in mind your story about the guitar being disassembled for decades, and your storage unit sounds like it's close to halfway across the country - we all know what the road to Hell is paved with: good intentions.
You're already spending a chunk of money on parts, so another 30 bucks at this point seems like it's not inappropriate for having a drop in plate vs. having to drill a new set of holes for a $20 coverplate. |
I believe that's sound advice. I have no intention of making the trip until snow season is over (as if it's ever really over here in the Rockies). The imported $50 Beard coverplate seems like the way to go (unless it definitely won't fit). As much as I would like one of those $255 beauties, I am somewhat hesitant to invest more money in the instrument than it's worth. Then again, there's really little to gain by cheaping out, either. A delicate balancing act indeed.
Of course, there's always the notion of ordering the Chinese coverplate for about $18 delivered, and redrilling it in lieu of the instrument itself. Decisions, decisions... |
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