Introduction to Dobro
The Resonator
The Dobro is a single cone resonator guitar that is easily confused at first glace with the single cone National guitars. But in fact, they are fundamentally different in construction and design. The Dobro resonator is dish-shaped, opposite of the volcano-shaped National resonator. The Dobro has an eight legged bridge support (called a "spider") that spans the dish and conducts the string vibrations (compared to National's biscuit system).
|
|
Metal Body Resonator Guitars.
Most Dobros have wooden bodies, but Dobro also made metalbody guitars from 1935 to 1940 only. Regal (which was Dobro's exclusive licensee) also made metal body resonator guitars with their brand name and also the "Old Kraftman" name. Several other resonator brand names were also used such as Ward, but these are in fact still Regal/Dobro made resonator guitars. All metalbody Regal/Dobros have 14 frets clear of the body.
The construction of the Regal/Dobro metalbody was quite different than National guitars. Regal/Dobro tops and backs were fastened to the sides with a unique method that required no soldering. The resulting lip around the edges gave rise to the name "Violin Edge" or, "Fiddle Edge" as it was known around the factory. This construction method was only used from 1935 to 1940. All later model metal Dobro's which were in production from the 1970 to the present are easily identifiable because they lack this fiddle edge. Some of these models used a "M-" prefix or "M" suffix around the model number. Hawaiian square neck models used a "P-" prefix or "H" suffix.
Also most Dobro metalbodies have window-like round soundholes in the upper body, except for (consistently) the No.35 which has segmented F-holes. Though some other models will also have segmented F-holes, most models with the Dobro brand name have the round window soundholes. Segmented F-holes are seen more on Regal brand resonator instruments than Dobro.
Metal or wood body, Dobros with "f" holes are considered less desirable than "port" hole models. Dobro used f-holes on their less expensive models, and port holes on their mid to upper end models. This especially applies to wood body Dobros. Metal body dobros this is not really an issue.
The tailpiece used on 1935-1940 metal body vintage Dobro's is very unique. And it's very fragile. Often you see these broken where they wrap around the fiddle edge of the body. Since no one has made a fiddle-end guitar since 1940, replacements are very difficult to find.
Property of Provide.net
|
|
|
Affiliates
Popular Blog Posts
|
