MM >NATIONAL >DOBRO >SUPRO >RESEARCH

[Michael Messer]

Hi everyone,

Once again some research is happening at the forum's HQ and I would very much appreciate your help.

I am looking for photos, album covers, names of artists - who use the lesser known instruments made by National, Dobro and Supro. The lists of players using Tricones, Style Os, Duolians, and wood bodied Dobros, is pretty comprehensive. But our knowledge of players who use or did use Triolians, Trojans, Estralidas, Aragons, El Trovadors, Collegians, Havanas, fiddle-edge Dobros, electric Glenwoods and other res-O-glas electrics, Valpros, Supros, National lap steels, National archtops---etc, is not so comprehensive.

In recent research threads I have been amazed by some of the names & instruments that have turned up. Please post pictures, links, anything on this subject



Thank you,

Shine On,
Michael.

[Alan]

Here's an easy one to find



Fenton & Gallagher

[Anders]

Rainer doing Me and the Devil on a Supro Dualtone:


And of course, the White Stripes:

Jack White sure has some blaim for the increased interest in old Airline guitars...


Anders

[Mairena Red]

Hi Michael,

I mentioned on an earlier thread (in connection with Anthony's acquisition of a Supro Dual Tone) that I had seen photographs of both Link Wray and Ry Cooder playing the earlier single cutaway wood-bodied Supro Dual Tone. I will see if I can track down a picture or two or a link (no pun intended!)

All the best,

Joe (aka Mairena Red)

[mirrormist]

Jimi Hendrix...1959 Supro Ozark (I think)

I think i have seen Ry Cooder also...with a wood body Supro (val trol?)

Great pic of the nationals...

Regards

[Alan]

Here's the Link Ray



Jeff Lang plays a lot of that kind of thing
www.jefflang.com.au/equipment.htm

Here are the Hendrix things

How does Magnatone fit into things? Or does it?

[Mark Makin]

Hello Alan
Magnatone is a bit of a fringe thing. They seemed to go their own way as far as manufacture was concerned (mostly amps) but they did their "own brand" version of the cyclops and double cyclops Dobros. They had a foil blue and white sticker in place of the Dobro sticker.

[Blues Pertti]

Hi,
In this link there were an interesting article about history
www.vintageguitar.com/brands/details.asp?ID=78

for those like me, whose only basic information is BB's book ;D

Pertti

[Brad Bechtel]

Here's a good article on Magnatone:
www.vintageguitar.com/brands/details.asp?ID=132
www.vintageguitar.com/brands/details.asp?ID=41

[Alan]

Seen a couple of these recently. One advertised as an Airline Tosca, the other as a Supro Tosca. Can't say I ever noticed them before

[mesnier]

Howdy!

Wonderful Michael your "blue Dobro" is back home again !!!! You often spoke to me about .

Here is a pic of a "National" Res-O-Glass VARSITY 1964, I have sold.
This guitar was owned by a wonderful french rock musician Alain BERKES who died of an heart dicease the last year:



Alain used to sang in French, but had that "Cooder" attitude.
God bless him.

[Michael Messer]

Merci beaucoup Pascal, another link in the chain! Do you have, or could you get, a photo of Alain with the National?

Blue Dobro Blue Dobro Blue Dobro Blue Dobro Blue Dobro ;D

Shine On,
Michael

[mesnier]

Hi Michael,
The only thing I have found is the cover of his last (and single LP done the year before his death)



But there he played his other Supro Dualtone.
No pic of the National in his hands I know...Sorry.

[Alan]

Here are a couple of the more obvious ones from Memphis Minnie




and one of many of the late Paul Pena