Dobro Identification

[zimmharpo23]

Hi all

First of all I’m a newbie here so thanks for having me on your forum. I’m also not so knowledgeable about Dobros and Nationals but I know many of you guys are - I’ve really enjoyed reading some of your old threads.

I do play a bit of slide guitar in a couple of open tunings and have owned a few budget resonators in the past, plus an old Continental which I sold about 10 years ago. Thing is, I want a better quality resonator and have been looking on eBay, gumtree and in Tin Can Alley for suitable items.

The guitar below came into my orbit recently and I would like some help in identifying the model please, as the guy in the shop seemed to think it was a B33H. I haven’t found such a model on the net, I wondered if it was a DM33H?

I will post pictures below, please bear with me as this is my first attempt!

Best wishes

Andy

Attachments:

[Mark Makin]

Hi Andy
Good to see you here. What you have is a straightforward OMI made, Dobro Model 33H. They started making these around 1973 and carried on for around 30 years. They seemed to disappear around 2008. From the serial number, yours would seem to date from 1989. After 1993, the company was taken over by Gibson and eventually moved back east. So yours is one made during the last years of the Original Musical Instrument Company in Huntington Beach, CA.

The R5 at the front of the serial number is a company code designating the exact model. The 309 refers to the 309th instrument made that year. The '89' is the date and the last letter 'B' means 'metal body'. If it was a wood body, it would have a 'D' at the end.

[zimmharpo23]

Hi Mark

I’m sorry I have made a mess of my reply.
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my message. That is very helpful, many thanks.

Andy