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Topic: Please inform me about this Dobro |
John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 5 Oct 2003 8:56 am |
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I played a Dobro Friday in a local store. It's a painted brass-bodied guitar. It has sort of, crimped edges where the top and back are joined to the sides. It has the small holes with a cross that go across each hole that is part of the stamped top. there is also a raised area under the finger-board extension that is also part of the stamped top. Nice big V-neck. It's painted in a yellow to brown sunburst. It sounded pretty good despite needing a good set-up, and a real set of strings. The strings that were on it were a corroded set of 10's. I've been looking for a guitar for bottle-necking. I'm curious about when it was made, and what it's value is. it's not in mint condition, the top is worn through to the brass in the right forearm area. But, really looks aren't an issue for me, it's sound and playability that are important.
Thanks,
JB |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 5 Oct 2003 9:10 am
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It sounds as if it's one of the "fiddle edge" guitars built by Dobro between 1935 and 1942 ... but I can't find a reference to a painted brass-body model. There were a variety of models made of sheet metal, nickel-plated brass, and aluminum "Dobro-lite" and "Luma-lite." (Regal also built Dobro-brand guitars during that period, but I've read that the round "window" soundholes came exclusively from Dobro in California.)
Take a look at this web site for some more help in identifying it. |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 5 Oct 2003 9:23 am
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John there are also a couple of aluminum "fiddle edge" Dobros on eBay right now for comparison: this one and
that one.
You might also look for a serial number stamped into the top of the peghead -- if there isn't one, it's probably a Regal-built guitar. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 5 Oct 2003 9:36 am
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Russ, cool site! The guitar in question is definately a "fiddle-edge" model, but I didn't see one like it at that site. This one is brass, or ,at least, brass plated under the paint. the sunburst paint is exactly like the ones at that site. The peghead is not gold-sparkle, and it has the Dobro decal. I don't think there were holes for a pickguard, but will take another look. The tail piece has already be brazed back together. It's exactly like the ones pictured at that site. Not a great design from the git-go! Any ideas about a reasonable price range? What about it's suitability for blues?
John Billings |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 6 Oct 2003 9:16 am
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Can anybody help with a price range on these "fiddle-edge" Dobro's? The seller wants a $1000, and he's tellin' me that's a good deal. But I just don't know anything about this model other than it sounds good and plays pretty well.
Thanks,
JB |
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