Dobro question for Michael, RBE and anyone else interested

[gaucho]

I recently picked up a beautiful looking and playing vintaged dobro ('34 or '35 judging from the serial # 6039). At first I thought it was a model 37. When I opened it up (it was a round neck set up with a high not and bridge and I wanted to return the action to normal) it had Luthier/builder Bobby Wolf's name and a set-up date inside of it. I contacted Bobby and he said he too initially thought it was a model 37 but by the time he finished working on it (it was in 1989) he was thinking it was actually a model 85. I found a thread on the forum (http://michaelmesser.proboards.com/thread/5535) where Rbe and Michael were talking about these 2 models and I was hoping to get you all's thoughts on mine. Here are some photos I took today:











Thanks in advance. It doesn't really matter what is is, I LOVE the tone, and that's what I got it for! I just love to know the history of these!

[rbe]

Gaucho,
I have come across a simular instrument. It was one I was restoring that had been refinished poorly in red stain. When the fretboard was removed the remaining original finish was just like the one you have, dark burst. The key things that Model 85's have is a mahogany ply body (usually fancy some kind of fancy grain), and braces glued to the inside back. The braces in particular were only know to be used on the Model 85/86. But 85/86's were not know to have a bursted finish. So that is why your guitar is an oddity. The other thing is Dobro often used fake graining techniques in their finishing. So a lot of the time what looks like mahogany is not. But the 85/86's and some 37's are real mahogany ply. If your guitar has braces inside on the back, then whether you call it an 85 or 37 it is a fine guitar. Dobro considered the 85's their pro model and the bracing is really the only structural difference. I think that might be why Bobby was thinking it is an 85, even though it looks like a 37. Similar bracing was used in the wood body Triolian. I think many people on this forum can vouch for how great those guitars are. It is my opinion that the braces make a difference in the tone. Hope this helps. By the way, Bobby knows his stuff.
Rik

[Mark Makin]

Hi Chris,
I was thinking along the same lines as Rick ( although perhaps not quite as succinctly!)
I think, as Bobby obviously seems to have discovered, that internally it appears to be a higher quality instrument.
This is exactly the sort of problem that constantly confuses people trying to identify Dobros. You often can't tell whether it is a Model 37 trying to be an 85 or an 85 looking disturbingly like a 37!!
Best
Mark

[gaucho]

Thanks guys. What really matters to me is that it has an amazing tone! This and my '32 Duolian have the perfect (and very different) tone for they way I like t play. Thanks again for the responses.