Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2012 10:04:50 GMT
Hi all,
Looking for some advice.
A friend has inherited a round neck Dobro guitar and asked me if I could give him some info about it. Its wood bodied from around the mid 90s (he was told around 96/97) so I think that would mean it is Gibson and USA made? I know they made hound dogs but was unsure when this started? Was also unsure if it could be OMI??
Also if not sure of the sound quality or type of cone etc- I know the hound dogs aren't great but wondered if this model was any better??
He also asked how much this guitar would be worth? I've tried looking around google but have no idea re. model so its pretty pointless!!
I know that's very little info to go on but if anyone has any ideas that would be great.
Cheers for your help!
Flynn
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2012 11:53:25 GMT
First up, inheriting any dobro is good news IMO. Without seeing it, if its a late '90s hound-dog, its probably asian made. Its not as good as the original hound-dog (with a mutt on the headstock), and it may either be / sound rubbish or pretty good depending on who worked on it / checked it at the factory, or if its had any mods since. Also, I have no problem with cheap metal 'dobro' hardware (cones etc) - I have some on my OMI body and it sounds really good, many times better than when it was in the horrid fender FR50. Don't assume that upgrading the metal bits will make a big difference. My experience is when these gibson / fender bodies and necks are thrown together, you then probably have a poor quality guitar. TT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2012 14:57:06 GMT
Thanks for that answer.
I agree, wish I had inherited it, looks beautiful! Im not sure if it is a hound dog...were all gibson dobros called hound dogs? It doesn't say that on it anywhere, just dobro on the head.
Someone had told my friend that they thought it was made in America before they started making them in Asia??
|
|
|
Post by gaucho on Aug 5, 2012 23:35:43 GMT
If there is a serial number stamped on the top edge of the headstock, there 's a good dance it's american made. I had an american made hound dog that was really good, but they can be spotty.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 9:41:25 GMT
home.provide.net/~cfh/dobro.htmlThis link has some info on Dobros. I've been trying to learn about the history of these guitars too, can end up spending hours reading about them! This website (unsure how reliable) states that Gibson bought the name in 1998, therefore your guitar if 96/97 might not be Gibson. The serial number could give you a clue- that website also tells you what the numbers mean. This would give you the year of the guitar accurately and model. As for the value- I have no idea and you will need one of the more experienced members to help you out there. However there was a very similar sounding guitar on ebay- finished yesterday unsold at £595 with £40 postage. This was described as a 1997 US made Gibson dobro-no idea in relation to quality of these guitars as im a novice but as this didnt sell it might suggest that the asking price was a bit high- once again im sure someone here will help you with that. Hope this helps or is at least a start in the right direction!
|
|
|
Post by Mark Makin on Aug 6, 2012 12:22:56 GMT
Some basic information for you!
In late 1967, Ed Dopyera got some financial backing from a collector and enthusiast called Grady Jones, to start a new company (Original Musical Instrument Co or OMI). They could not call the guitars 'Dobros' because, the Dopyera brothers had sold the rights to Semi Mosely of Mosrite back in 1966. The name 'Dobro' would not revert back to the brothers until Mosely went bankrupt in 1970.
In the meantime, they called their new resonators "Hound Dogs". These original instruments had a red/gold/black decal with a cartoon hound dog staring out at you. They went back to calling them Dobros and Dopyera originals by 1969.
Various versions of the 'Hound Dog' have been made over the years. Around 1978, OMI even made a range of Martin-style Dreadnought acoustics called 'Hound Dogs'.
Gibson bought the remains of OMI from the then owner, Mary Lizak after the death of her husband Chester in September 1993. They continued to run the factory from the same original premises in Huntington Beach, CA until the end of 1997. At that point, they closed it down, sacked most of the staff, and moved the whole thing to Nashville in early 1998. The company was renamed the "Original Acoustic Instrument Division" (OAI). Gibson today make a lot of these cheap Hound Dogs. They first appeared in the OMI catalogue of 1995ish. They were listed as 'Hound Dog 101'. Constructed in maple with a light maple fingerboard and black dot markers -(a bit like a telecaster!) They have no sound well.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 14:27:12 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Brad Bechtel on Aug 7, 2012 16:16:07 GMT
In my opinion, the Dobro® guitars made during this period can be inconsistent, but generally sound better than the Asian made imports currently sold under the Dobro® name. The name "Hound Dog" has been used for many different models over the past 50 years. I own a 1994 Dobro® Hound Dog that is similar to the Model F-60 shown in the eBay auction, but with a different finish and screen holes instead of F holes. It's my "wall hanger" guitar. Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan (USA) has a similar one from 1999 - they're asking $925 USD, but it "needs work".
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 13:05:06 GMT
Thanks for all that info.
I passed on the ebay link and am told it is the exact model shown in that listing (That Brad has identified as an F-60, thanks). I've tried to persuade my friend that this is the perfect opportunity to learn on this guitar but unfortunately it seems the money in his hand is more important at present. I was quite interested in buying it from him but don't really know how much would be fair! In addition as I won't get a chance to try it and it seems the quality of these guitars can be inconsistent it may be heading for eBay with no reserve!
|
|
cw
MM Forum Member
Posts: 6
|
Post by cw on Apr 21, 2015 1:57:06 GMT
First up, inheriting any dobro is good news IMO. Without seeing it, if its a late '90s hound-dog, its probably asian made. Its not as good as the original hound-dog (with a mutt on the headstock), and it may either be / sound rubbish or pretty good depending on who worked on it / checked it at the factory, or if its had any mods since. Also, I have no problem with cheap metal 'dobro' hardware (cones etc) - I have some on my OMI body and it sounds really good, many times better than when it was in the horrid fender FR50. Don't assume that upgrading the metal bits will make a big difference. My experience is when these gibson / fender bodies and necks are thrown together, you then probably have a poor quality guitar. TT
|
|
cw
MM Forum Member
Posts: 6
|
Post by cw on Apr 21, 2015 2:01:23 GMT
Hello, I am new on here and I have been researching The Original Hound Dog Dobro. I have looked at many pictures and I have seen the stamp/ painted Original Hound Dog on the head stock but I have not seen one like mine. Original Hound Dog is actually etched on the headstock along with the hound dog head looking forward. Can anyone help me identify and value this Dobro? Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by Brad Bechtel on Apr 21, 2015 14:50:09 GMT
Please post photos of your instrument so we can identify it (or guess about it) successfully. As I said earlier, the Hound Dog name has been used several times on several different models, both made in the USA and in Asia.
Alternatively if you can buy or borrow a copy of Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars, you might be able to identify it yourself.
|
|
cw
MM Forum Member
Posts: 6
|
Post by cw on Apr 23, 2015 3:13:50 GMT
Thanks Brad! For some reason I can't get my photos to post on here. I'll keep trying.
|
|
cw
MM Forum Member
Posts: 6
|
Post by cw on Apr 23, 2015 3:39:01 GMT
These photos are for Brad Bechtel. I tried to post them on the current thread but I don't think I got them to the right locaton. Thanks
|
|
cw
MM Forum Member
Posts: 6
|
Post by cw on Apr 23, 2015 3:44:05 GMT
These photos are for Brad Bechtel. I tried to post them on the current thread but I don't think I got them to the right locaton. Thanks
|
|