Are 1970s Dobro Resonator Guitars Any Good?
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- Опубликовано: 4 июл 2024
- Here we look at a 1973 Dobro 33D guitar made by two Dopyera brothers in Longbeach California.
SN 01446.
A lovely guitar IMHO but an era which I’ve heard mixed reports about.
We know 70s Fenders, Gibsons, Martins etc are bad guitars. So are these 1970s resonator guitars any good?
Hear comparisons between a genuine vintage 1934 Style O as well as Dobro history and the fact this guitar is for sale here in the UK.
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Thanks all!
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Hello Martyn,
the first i like to thank Michael, the forum-members and especially you for your excellent youtube channel.
I own myself several resonators :
1976 Dobro Duolian Model 90, 9 1/2 inch 14 frets
Michael Messer Blues 28 12 fret model
Michael Messer Lightning 12 fret model
Jonson Tri-Cone Steel Body, not the worst
Johnson Single Cone Steel Body also not bad
If i had to reduce i would stick to my old Dobro and the ´28
Both have the sweetest tone and even do perform loud
not to mention that i payed my ass off in the 80s for the dobro even without case
2100 Deutschmarks.
Back in these days you could not get any Nationals in Germany and i desperately wanted
a single cone to play Johnny Winters Dallas and several others.
Greetings from Germany
Mrpwrslide
Hello. This is lovely information. Nice to hear another positive Michael Messer tale. Love those ‘28s.
All the best and thanks for the kind words.
Hi Martyn, I had been waiting for this video desparately, after you had mentioned working on it! Thanks for the information. As you know I have a 1978 33D which I love. I had never discovered the Dopyera "D" on the back, thanks for pointing this out. I can confirm the "reverb" and the more mid-rangey sound. From the look it seems that even the eary 70s OMIs shared the not-quite-perfect fretting, but they still seem to have a decent nut. My 1978 already differs on some counts: It has the cheap semi-transparent plastic nut (the material for which was supposedly stolen from the neighbouring company trash, so says the legend), body seems chrome plated, Grover Futura instead of Rotomatic tuners, maple neck. Great video, great playing, as always. Thanks! Best Andreas
Thanks Andreas! I actually talked about your email but had to cut it as the video has massively over ran already! Hopefully you’re still happy with yours. This one turned out great. It’s a decent guitar with its own sound! Thanks!! 🎯
I used to own two 33D models (the first one got stolen) - very nice instruments indeed. I only sold mine a couple of years ago because by that time I also had a National Resophonic Style 1 tricone (which had been my dream guitar for so many years) and to cover the opposite end of the tone spectrum a MM Blues Duolian style (the trash can sound ;-) ). Three resonators didn't make much sense for my needs so the Dobro went to a friend. No money lost btw. Hope yours will find a good home!
This all sounds nice. Sure this will get a good home. It’s a nice guitar and is dialled in.
Powerful instrument! I own (among other resonators) an engraved 1970 OMI DM36 Dobro called "The Rose"; Just like the Sonny Landreth one!! thanks for posting this video!!
They’ve got a nice big full sound!! Enjoy!!
Interesting video!
Thanks!
That was definitely an interesting video…enjoyed the comparison….but gotta say I’m addicted to Nationals, so I’m a little biased. That being said I really liked the sound from the Dobro, surprisingly, and it’s has a uniqueness about it…you will have no problem selling it…if I wasn’t soooooooo far away I’d probably grab it !
Couldn’t agree more. It’s much better since having the work done. More focused and less flubby. It’s a perfectly good guitar. Quite affordable for a US made one with some age.
I have one of these : 1989 33D-Dobro (OMI made, biscuit model) : it used to be nothing more than average: oversized (10.5") and rigid cone, and (too) thick chrome plating. But the magician Mike Lewis (Fine Resophonic, Paris) swaped the cone for his 9.5" own model, and turned that ordinary thing in a wonderful instrument ! Of course, it' s not a 1933 Style O National, but pretty close, and far better than any rough chinese modern copy...Believe me, the main concern is in the original cone (stamped not spun, I dunno ?), on these guitars.
Same again. This one is so much better after having Steve go over it. They’re spun cones but thicker. I think that accounts for a lot. I believe the neck set was done to put more pressure on the cone which drives it more. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mike did the same. Definitely a great vibe and step up on many oriental guitars. With a pickup I’d have no issue gigging this. In fact would be proud to.
Hi Martin! I LOVE your videos. Thanks! I have a Dobro OMI 1993 Lilly of the Valley, for me is wonderful, but in your opinion early 90’s are any good? Regards and Thanks!
Sadly I don’t know enough to comment much really. People tell me opinions about these. I haven’t played many. This one is perfectly decent. Prefer good old Nationals and newer NRP guitars. I’d take them on an individual basis.
Thanks for the reviews and all your reso videos . . . that 70's dobro sounds nice (your playing helps ) after that set up. Even thought the vintage national does sound better, that sounds good. I guess whoever is the proud owner of it, they can tie a shoe string or something to mute the tailpiece to bridge section.
Hoping to get national or a mule . . . so far resos have become my main guitar type.
Yes, the chinese ones don't compare much to higher end ones. Of the chinese ones I have / or know . . . they are all metal, recordking tricone has best tone, not so playble (it has a 1.8 or 1.9 neck vs the 1.75 standard), the gretsch are very playable (one model has v neck so that differs if you like V or not) good tone for single or spider, the epiphone dobro hound has playability but sometimes not yet tone isn't good and great build quality
They’re up and down the oriental ones. I agree on Recording Kings. They’ve all been nice. I still think the Michael Messer ones are the best ‘cheap’ ones.
A Mule or National is a great way to go. Worth aspiring to!
It does sound nice this ‘73 Dobro. Touch more mid focused than the ‘34 National. TBH I think both sound great in different ways.
I’ve used foam in the past under the strings by the tailpiece. It actually cleans the sound up massively as it cuts overtones and some of the instruments ’reverb.’ Another good one is threading a strip of leather or as you say string.
Happy you find the videos useful!! Thanks. 🥂
interesting video martin ,i have not yet played a 70s dobro but i have played a few from the 80s and one from the early 90s just before Gibson got the dobro name .....i enjoyed the ones i played personally . the only thing i wasnt so keen on is the ones i played felt like driving a 4 cylinder car and not a V8 when you play a well set up national . , the one you have sounded very different from what i played . the set up from the great steve evans was quite noticeable ....regards from antwerp al
It was a bit dead before the work. Like you had to hit it harder to get it to speak. Not the case now. Steve was of the opinion that it’s better now than it was out of the factory. He did a few tweaks and got the neck set to optimise driving the cone. 🎯
@@TheWashboardResonators i noticed that straight away even from behind a p.c
Hi Martin, Any chance of doing a lesson on the outro tune. Great Video.
It’s all pretty standard Open D stuff but yes. I’ll get around to that. Thanks!
Super interesting story about your Dobro.
It’s a lovely guitar for sure! Came out nice!
I actually prefer the sound of the Dobro which to me has a clearer and brighter sound, with good projection. It also looks easier to play from the shape of it. I have a Dobro Model 114 wood body 14 fret, round neck Dobro from the "70's which looks like the same shape neck and body. It is not very loud but is really easy to play with very good tone.
It’s the beauty of instruments and how they all speak to us differently. Happy picking!! 🎼🎯🎼
Hello, I'm back, after one year, to see your video again. My very first impression, when I hear that 33D is the volume AND reverb, and the poor harmonics rate. The oversized and stiff cone brings a beefier sound, but the fundamental is too prominent, on each string. The thicker plating also prevents the body to vibrate, and participe to the instrument sonic signature. The cone change brings much, for sure, but the thick chrome kills all the high harmonics: a good instrument for Bukka White or Son House pieces, not for Tampa Red's!
It’s got a chunky sound for sure.
Hi Martyn Interesting video there. I have long been a fan of resonophonic guitars. I wonder if you could help me with a problem I have been trying to understand, the serial number on my own.
I have a Metal Body Dobro which I bought in 1990. I have a vague memory that the bloke in the shop said it was a 1997 model, but the serial number does not make sense.
The serial number is 8 5257 7D.
So, from what I have read, I have an OMI Model, year of manufacture 1997, but D means Wood. I may not be a luthier, but I can tell metal from wood.
Am I missing something here, or has there been a mistake with the stamping back in the factory?
Speak to Mark Makin or buy his book and you’ll be able to track down everything you need to know!
Thanks, Martin. I will give him a try. I have never come across that book, the only one I have seen is Bob Brozman's which only covers Nationals.
where is it listed for sale ? great video!
Not listed anywhere yet. Selling it privately! PM the band on any platform to talk purchasing.
@@TheWashboardResonators sounds good man are you on facebook? love your channel!
Pls keep doing a video
Will do. 😄
Im a mandolin player in owensboro ky. Bluegrass Capitol. Can any tell me a good 1 at about a $700 cost. New not used.
Hard to say. They can all be so different. The Gretsch spider bridge could work!
Chris Whitley would say "yes" if he could.
Certainly!