| Author |
Topic: Pre WWII Model 37 Dobro question... |
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 1:42 pm |
|
| This model 37 roundneck is from the late 30's and made by Regal for Dobro from what I understand.(DOBRO on headstock) BIG V neck,solid headstock.. pro setup for squareneck style and was quarterman coned,bone nut,new bridge,etc by Greg McKenna....it is a superb sounding dobro in good condition (top is fine..back and sides & neck are pretty aged.....Any idea what the value is?...I know it's tough to guage without pics (I can take some)...I recently bought a Beard Maple E and now this old beauty won't get the playing time it deserves.I've owned it for 15 years..It records and plays beautifully....any info much appreciated....thanks guys... |
|
|
 |
Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 1:51 pm
|
|
It's almost impossible to guess unless you share a picture or two. It should look something like this one from the Folkway Music web site. According to this Vintage Guitar article, Mike Auldridge played a Model 37 for many years.
------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
|
|
|
|
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 1:59 pm
|
|
Thanks Brad,and yes it looks like that one except it has a solid headstock,and the lower bout isn't quite as large.....I'd heard that MA played one of these for years...this one is sweet and loud too...I don't know how to post pics...
------------------
Sho-Bud Pro I
Beard Maple E standard
'39 Regal 37 Dobro
50's Gibson BR-9
40's Vega lap steel
LOTS of 6/12 string guitars & old BF Fender/MusicMan amps..
|
|
|
|
Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
|
|
|
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 3:22 pm
|
|
| Thank you Brad... |
|
|
|
D Schubert
From:
Columbia, MO, USA
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 5:06 pm
|
|
| I took a quick look at gruhn.com, elderly.com, and mandolin brothers' used instrument inventories. They are pretty good references for market price. I didn't see any old wood-bodied Dobros at this time, but they do list them often enough. If I was shopping for a pre-war Dobro, I'd hope to find one in gig-worthy condition for $1300 to $1700. If I was selling one, I would probably start with a higher asking price. An exceptionally clean one, or exceptionally good-sounding one might bring a little more. From a bluegrass perspective, the solid peghead is a bit of a plus and the round neck is a bit of a minus. Just one fool's opinion. |
|
|
|
Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 5:19 pm
|
|
* double post
------------------
Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 16 November 2006 at 05:21 PM.] |
|
|
|
Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 5:20 pm
|
|
$1200-$1300
Just a gut thing.
------------------
Mark
|
|
|
|
Bryan Bradfield
From:
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 5:30 pm
|
|
Could that be a model 27?
My recollection is that model 37 had the 3 small holes between the screen inserts, while the 27 lacked those 3 holes. |
|
|
|
Mike Fried
From:
Nashville, TN, USA
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 7:40 pm
|
|
| Bryan, I could be mistaken, but I think the Model 27 had f-holes and no sound chamber. One of the sweetest-sounding Dobros I ever heard was one of those (Regal-made), a round-neck with a nut extender. I believe that's the model Lloyd Green has always recorded with, although I think his is a square-neck. |
|
|
|
Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 7:47 pm
|
|
Nice call-Bryan...model 27 does indeed lack the three little holes.
Mike-no F-holes on the 27.
You're right about the Lloyd Dobro-an F-hole model, used on those classic Don Williams mellow country tunes.
------------------
Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 16 November 2006 at 07:50 PM.] |
|
|
|
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 8:10 pm
|
|
| I want to thank you guys for all your info....I was told by Greg McKenna that it was a model 37..I don't know beyond that....this one sounds terrific.. very loud and sweet..big V neck.... |
|
|
|
Paul Warnik
From:
Illinois,USA
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 9:15 pm
|
|
| Some early model 27's (California made) did have the three holes-The model 37 has genuine mahogany (back and sides)-since this guitar does not I would call it a model 27-many people confuse some mid 30's Regals with the "rolled on mahogany grain pattern" as model 37 guitars when they are not-a fair number of these were made as student guitars and can be found with or without the soundwell-Roundneck pre-WWII Dobros do not generally bring as much as the same model in square neck-setting up a roundneck as a "hound dog" does not increase value and many or most round necks that have been set up for "hound dog" style are usually not playable "Spanish style" because the necks have bowed-Hence I value a playable round neck worth more than the unplayable one set up Hawaiian-According to friend and Dobro expert Mike Cass the market on vintage Dobros has dropped due to the market being flooded with newer production models that often sound as good or even better than originals-I recently purchased a SQUARE neck model 45 Pre-WWII spruce top in very fine condition-The guitar dealer was initially wanting $1800 which was not out of line-I was able to get it for slightly less than the asking price-based on my experience (collecting vintage resos since 1982) My appraisal value of this instrument would be lesser than some here have given-NOTE-The link that Brad B posted to the Folkway Music site shows a Dobro with the "auditorium" size body with the smaller than standard upper bouts-these are often of the "rolled on mahogany grain pattern" (not geniune mahogany) that I spoke about [This message was edited by PAUL WARNIK on 16 November 2006 at 09:54 PM.] |
|
|
|
Mike Fried
From:
Nashville, TN, USA
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 10:30 pm
|
|
| Mark and Paul - which model was it that had the f-holes? I know I saw one described(apparently incorrectly) somewhere recently as a 27, and I don't want to further the misinformation. Thanks... |
|
|
|
Paul Warnik
From:
Illinois,USA
|
Posted 16 Nov 2006 11:15 pm
|
|
| Pre-WWII with "F" holes = model #19 some later ones also called "Angelus" these often feature the "poinsettia" coverplate and are lacking a soundwell-Some may be found with the round holes in the coverplate and a four leg (instead of eight leg) spider bridge [This message was edited by PAUL WARNIK on 16 November 2006 at 11:38 PM.] |
|
|
|
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
Posted 17 Nov 2006 5:04 am
|
|
| Just to clarify,this Regal made Dobro DOES have solid mahogany (back and sides)and I too have heard that the import Beards/Scheerhorns have put a dent in the value of these old dobros..doesn't matter...I love this old resonator and it has been with me for quite awhile....I appreciate all of your opinions...thank you.... |
|
|
|
Jay Yuskaitis
From:
Massachusetts, USA
|
Posted 17 Nov 2006 5:29 am
|
|
The cover plate appears to be a late model
.
Jay Y,
------------------
|
|
|
|
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
Posted 17 Nov 2006 5:48 am
|
|
| The coverplate and spider were replaced by Dobro in '90....This guitar was found in '44-'45 in the barracks at Ft.Devins,Mass and it sat in the attic of the previous owner unplayed until 1991,when it was sent to Dobro in Ca. for a new cone,spider and coverplate.I bought it shortly after thatin New London,Ct. (Carusos)..as mentioned,it has been since pro setup w/quarterman cone,bridge,bone nut and pro tweeked by ace builder Gregg McKenna... |
|
|
|
D Schubert
From:
Columbia, MO, USA
|
Posted 17 Nov 2006 6:14 am
|
|
I read that the Dobro model numbers were keyed to the retail "list" price. In other words, the Model 37 sold for $37.
Examples: I have a Model 55 that I got from Paul W, made in California (1928, pre-depression) and relatively plain. I also have a Model 45 made in Chicago in the late 30's -- during harder times -- that is much nicer, with a spruce top and a 2-piece mahogany back. I've seen the "Angelus" Dobros identified as Model 17 or Model 19 (which?) which reflects a plainer, smaller instrument and a lower price.
I'm sure that Paul and some of the other collectors know more than I do about this stuff.... |
|
|
|
John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
|
Posted 17 Nov 2006 10:14 am
|
|
Paul W. Have you changed your email address? I tried to send one, and it bounced back.
John Billings
http://steelguitaramericas.com/ |
|
|
|
Mike Fried
From:
Nashville, TN, USA
|
Posted 17 Nov 2006 10:30 am
|
|
| Thanks for the info, Paul. The one that I played was then an Angelus, and it truly did sound amazing. |
|
|
|
Gregg McKenna
From:
South Windsor, Connecticut, USA
|
Posted 17 Nov 2006 4:56 pm
|
|
I would say $800-$1300 in todays market via private sale (you could always ask more). Sadly, I've found there's only a very small market for the pre-wars. With all the new modern sound hoopla, most everybody seems to want the newer open body construction guitars.
Dealers will almost always have a higher price on the pre-wars because naturally, thats how they make their money.
Just my humble $.02 |
|
|
|
Paul Warnik
From:
Illinois,USA
|
Posted 17 Nov 2006 9:43 pm
|
|
| D Schubert-I'm glad you are still enjoying that model 55 that you got from me-Gregg Mc-I am still enjoying the model 55 that I got from you-While I recognize Tom Gray is a Dobro expert I don't agree totally with all of the model number descriptions in his article (although it does have some interesting information) In particular is his early references to the evolution of the model 45 which he describes as the student model early on when in fact the plainer model 27 or 27G was available then (1928) To best of my knowledge the spruce top/mahogany back and sides model has always been the model 45-and yes the model 45 is a nicer appointed model in comparision to the model 55 which is the model that the prototypes were based on-The main quality of the model 55 has always been a high quality mahogany neck even though the body woods are not as visually appealing as the real mahogany on the model 45 or GENUINE model 37 [This message was edited by PAUL WARNIK on 17 November 2006 at 09:47 PM.] |
|
|
|
D Schubert
From:
Columbia, MO, USA
|
Posted 18 Nov 2006 6:09 am
|
|
| I hope that somebody in the know will write the "definitive" Dobro book one of these days. There is a a thread that runs through National - Dobro - Regal - Valco - Supro - Rickenbacker - OMI brand names & history over the years that I can only find in bits and pieces. Or, does this already exist somewhere and nobody's told me about it? |
|
|
|
Gregg McKenna
From:
South Windsor, Connecticut, USA
|
Posted 18 Nov 2006 6:32 am
|
|
Thanks Paul. That was a good guitar (if only you had seen the condition of it when I bought it... eek!!)
If I remember correctly, the model 55 had what looked to be ash plywood top/back with the magnolia wood sides (almost looked like poplar).
The mahogany necks were very good. |
|
|
|
