Vintage Dobro Question

[jromano23]

I recently came across a really great looking 14 fret 1936 Dobro model 27 with sunburst headstock, back, and neck. I believe these were part of a small batch made in California right before the move and have sort of a National looking headstock. Anyone here have any experience with these and do they typically carry a premium? The one at which I'm looking is priced more like a vintage National vs typical Dobro 27 and looks to be in good condition with nice setup according to seller. Thanks!

[Michael Messer]

Joe, it would be good to see photos to be sure that we are talking about a 1936 model 27.

Shine On
Michael

[jromano23]

Thanks, Michael. Here’s the reverb listing: reverb.com/item/63855091-dobro-1936-model-27-all-original-resonator-acoustic-guitar-w-vintage-hard-case

Interesting to note that the seller raised the price since I last looked.

[Mark Makin]

Hi Joe
This guitar is one of the very desirable "teardrop" Dobros. The value of these instruments began to be realised around 10 years ago when notable US Dobro players like Bobby Wolfe, Tut Taylor, Randy Getz and others started comparing their ideas about the 'best ever' Dobros. It became clear that the simple Model 27s and 37s in both square and round neck versions with numbers in the late 7000s through to the early 9000s were ALL exceptional instruments. Bashful Brother Oswald's famous Model 27 is one of these. The common factor linking most of these is the unmistakeable 'teardrop' sunburst pattern on the backs of these instruments. I believe that at present there are around 144 of them known (27,37,sq and rd, 12 and 14 fret)- even including some Model 45s and Model 60s. As the seller correctly states, there are only 37 14fret rd nks like this one.

In March of 1935, the National Company and the Dobro company finally amalgamated as NATIONAL DOBRO CORP. Six months later, by August they had moved into the McKinley Street Factory in LA. After a few more months, National/Dobro (for the most part) packed up and moved to Chicago, ....however, the McKinley plant continued for almost another year before just becoming a parts supply shop. These special 27s and 37s were made during that period in LA when everything else had moved to Chicago.

ALSO... it seems likely that the bodies of these Dobros, were the same bodies that were used for the D series National Trojans. Historically, National had never considered building a 'wood' shop to construct instruments (apart from early Triolians). This accounts for the Harmony and Kay agreements. National were happy to make necks and assemble instruments but farmed out body constructions. This is why Trojans are completely Harmony built but assembled at National. The D series Trojan seems to be a Dobro body with a National neck and probably grew out of discussions between National and Dobro when they first amalgamated in the McKinley plant and realised that they could now build wooden Nationals as well!!

Most of the information concerning teardrop Dobros has been recorded and correlated by Corey Lee McQuade in the US. He now has the complete record of newly discovered numbers, photos and timelines.

[jromano23]

Thanks, Mark. This is great info. I'm in talks with the seller and will circle back if I can make something work. Thanks again

[jromano23]

Here's a D series Trojan for reference which looks pretty similar to the Dobro per Mark's comment.

reverb.com/item/11013434-national-trojan-c-1935-sunburst-wood-body-resonator-dobro-round-v-neck-vintage-slide-guitar

I imagine the vibe is a little different on these D series compared to the Harmony made ones. Is that correct?

[mendax]

I bought my "teardrop" 14 fret round neck a few years ago to confirm my theory that the 14 fret L.A. Dobros were using the same bodies as their tenor guitars. I posted a photo some years ago with my newly acquired
14 fret along with my Model 37T and the electric N 419. The Regal tenors had a different body shape and a regular size cone, but the L.A. tenors used a mandolin cone like their tenortropes.
My teardrop has a lug cone with the regular spider and a later cover plate and I paid less than $700 on eBay--I think I was the only bidder.
The condition of the Reverb one is very slightly better than mine, and obviously this seller knows the guitar's relative rarity while mine didn't. I think a 12 fret square neck would fetch something closer to the seller's asking price than the smaller bodied round neck version would, as with wooden body Dobros, square necks are usually preferred.
I briefly put a nut riser on mine, and as a Hawaiian guitar it has a great tone, slightly compressed compared to my 12 fret pre-war guitars.
I may be out of touch as to prices on pre-wars, but I think his asking price is a tad optimistic. I don't think the demand for older Dobros is anywhere near that for Nationals, no matter how scarce a particular
guitar might be, unless of course it's one of the M series fiddle edge guitars (and a round neck!).
With most lap style resonator players today, they seem to want a guitar to sound like a more modern Scheerhorn or Beard resonator. While I like the way they sound, I personally prefer the pre-war Dobros.
I believe you can probably find a pre-war that sounds as good or better than his 27 for far less, but it might be a bit of a wait for another "teardrop".

[slidefever]

I’ve got 8062 and love it 😎👍
Mine doesn’t have the teardrop.

[jromano23]

This looks to be one of the the D series Trojans mentioned by Mark with the Dobro like body. Looks pretty nice.

www.ebay.com/itm/285559492452?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20221115143302%26meid%3D1fe17ee90a1b4820b6a93fdc0d01021d%26pid%3D101613%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26mehot%3Dnone%26itm%3D285559492452%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2Mobile%26brand%3DNational&_trksid=p4375194.c101613.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3Ad5a8f75718b0a8cd823576c0ffff8b72%7Cpageci%3A2bcd9c78-841c-11ee-a358-365952b530ac%7Ciid%3A1%7Cvlpname%3Avlp_homepage