New old Dobro

[gaucho]

I started a new thread on this. Picked it up this morning. By the time I got to it, the guy had dropped his asking price to $199!  I felt bad because he was a bit down on his luck, so I gave him the $250 he was originally asking for. This thing is super clean and sounds really good! Here it is on my bench. I cleaned it up a bit, cut a new bone (original plastic nut was broken) nut and put proper Dobro strings on it. From my research (and a lot of that was the helpful folks here) it appears to be a Regal made, Dobro model 19 or maybe a Model 5 from 1938-39. It's a full sized spider with a non lugged cone. No serial # or evidence of there ever being any kind of headstock badge. Neck is pretty straight and action is decent. I've been looking for one of these small bodied model 19 variants for a long time, and I definitely wanted one with a partial neck stick, which this has. The prices I was finding were all in the $700-$2000 range but most didn't have the neck stick (you can tell by the fret dots below the 12th fret which cover the neck mounting screws. Although one I went to look at that had the dots in the ad photos, had had them "hand painted" on!). It's all original, not sure how I feel about the UFO cover plate, but I wouldn't dream of replacing it!

[Deleted]

Nice one!
AND you got that parlour at a car boot sale too?
TT

[rbe]

Was I right, or was I right!? Glad you got it. You would have been crazy not to. It looks very clean. I am curious whether the cone is spun or stamped. Stamped is what I would guess. Does the cone have spinning ridges or wrinkles? And, is there a well or a shelf? If you're lucky there is a well. You would be able to see it through the F-holes, I would think. The top looks like spruce and the binding is not just plain white, it has black detail. This is not the bottom of the line for this style. In fact, it is this model's equivalent to the Model 45. Do not even consider changing the coverplate! You have something unusual. A typical coverplate makes it less unique. Put a magnet on it and see if it sticks. How about a photo of the back. Is there a center stripe?
Nice get. It is fun to find things like this.

[Michael Messer]

That's a great guitar! You have found a good one there. I would not change that coverplate, it is very unusual.

Lovely!

Shine On
Michael

[gaucho]

Thanks! I'm actually beginning to wonder if it is a Model 19 variation of some sort. It's really not as small as I thought it was, it's very nice wood (not ply), it has a sound well with holes in it and appears to have a full neckstick. It has binding (NOT painted on) front and rear on the body plus on the neck and on the back of the heel. The wood on the back (and there is a stripe down the center of the back) and sides is a high grade and nicely figured. The cone appears to be stamped (no little grooves or spirals indicating it being spun). The body shape is very similar to an El Trovador. The F holes have those distinct little diamond shaped notches in the center. It definitely doesn't seem to be a economy or student model like the Model 19s or Model 5s were. I found this similar one on Ebay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Dobro-Guitar-/231443143249?pt=Guitar&hash=item35e3161a51). Looks almost the same save for the cover plate and the lack of the notches in the center of the F holes. The shape of the top of the headstock has the same distinct arch. Any thoughts? It's beginning to look like even more of a great deal….

[rbe]

Right again! I am on a roll! You will find that the shape of the body is similar to most of the later Regal built Dobros. It is a very nice shape, usually slightly deeper than the traditional design that Dobro started with. You got the deluxe version here.

[Michael Messer]

Is there a serial number?

Shine On
Michael

[amccj7]

That ones a beauty congrats!

[gaucho]

RBE, so do you think it's a model 45? Michael, can't find and markings at all, anywhere! The more I play it the better it sounds! I've found some good deals in the past on Nationals and Dobros, but this one takes the prize! I'll post up more photos later, along with the photos of the 14 fret Style 0 I found recently.

[gaucho]

Looks like thos one: Can't make the link work. Cut and paste maybe…

gregboyd.com/instrument_detail.html?instrument_key=1115

[rbe]

That answer to the Model 45 question might be out of my league. But as I see it, if it had screened sound-holes, it would be what is now called a Model 45R. The "R" being a designation that it was built by Regal, with the Regal style body. So I am not sure what the actual model number is, but you have a no short-cuts Dobro guitar there. Most of the F-hole resos were built to appeal to a lower price market. Birch bodies, no soundwell, dovetail neck, simple appointments, lots of short cuts to keep the price down. Your guitar is built to be higher quality. Plus you got that very cool coverplate that was most commonly used on Regal fiddle-edges. More pictures please!

[rbe]

Here is a Model 45R. Body shape is pretty much the same.
www.gbase.com/gear/regal-model-45

[rbe]

Okay, I looked this guitar up in Steve Toth's Dobro Roots book. He calls it a Model R 25 (I previously had the "R" in the wrong place). But he also has the birch body model with the F-holes as a Model R 25. Something doesn't seem correct here. Dobro models are generally differentiated by details and materials and this guitar is too different from the typical birch model to have the same designation and therefore the same selling price back in the day. May opinion is that your guitar is comparable to the Model R 45, and someone is just going to have to find an ad tear sheet or catalog page that describes a guitar with these particular detail to inow what Model it is. Maybe Mr. Makin can help.

[thebluesbear( al)]

Hi Chris

nice one big congrats

al

[toremainn]

Looks like this one:

michaelmesser.proboards.com/thread/3619