dobro d36 the Rose

[disparatesoul]

Hi Everyone

i've just picked up my first metal bodied resonator. I absolutely love my spider coned wooden Dobro but was wanting a biscuit metal bodied one to go with it.  Picked a 1980 one up local, it has a small dent to the bottom but generally seems in great shape - its stunning visually.  it does need restringing and i may get a proper set up but the neck and action seem fine to me.

I know these have the larger 10 1/2 inch cone and that they aren't considered as good as the prewar vinatge models but just wondered what people thought of these.

cheers in advance

Andy

[davey]

Here's Martyn Roper talking about his: I've had one in the past & found it to be an excellent Guitar. Mine was set up with a low action and it played really nicely with medium strings.

[disparatesoul]

Thanks Davey

i have seen this and it gave me some reassurance before buying. The strings are dead as on it at the moment though, think they've been on for at least 10 years ! 

Are the 33 and 36 essentially the same apart from the finish? the 36 engraved and the 33 sandblasted ? 

[davey]

I've just consulted the big book and that sounds correct. Get some strings on and let us know how you go on.

[disparatesoul]

May 18, 2023 13:34:49 GMT davey said:

I've just consulted the big book and that sounds correct. Get some strings on and let us know how you go on.

Thanks Davey - i've ordered a set of Michaels strings, gone for 15s.

[pete1951]

I remember converting one from a 10 1/2-to 9 1/2” . The new NRP cone did make it sound a little more ‘ National ‘ like and a bit louder , but the original tone was pretty good. I hope the original cone sounds good with some new strings and you don’t want to mess with it. Although it’s not old compared with pre-war instruments it is an interesting piece and is more interesting with the original cone.
Pete


If you really want to put a new smaller cone in , make sure you put the original one in a non crushable box and keep it safe, so not in a plastic bag on top of the wardrobe!

[disparatesoul]

May 18, 2023 14:22:16 GMT pete1951 said:

If you really want to put a new smaller cone in , make sure you put the original one in a non crushable box and keep it safe, so not in a plastic bag on top of the wardrobe!

lol!

thats good advice Pete ! 

I'm not thinking of changing it at the minute - with the old strings you can still hear a 'good' tone, at least to my ears, but i'm inexperienced in terms of pre-war nationals.

It is a fantastic piece of art - though i hope i can learn to do it justice, my slide playing is still in development !

[disparatesoul]

May 18, 2023 13:34:49 GMT davey said:

I've just consulted the big book and that sounds correct. Get some strings on and let us know how you go on.

restrung and cleaned up, the fretboard was very dry - conditioned it and its much better now, the guitar has hardly been played in at least a decade.

Neck is straight, and it's sounding great now. I have no great experience with early nationals to compare it with but the tone is very good to my ears and a good contrast to by wood bodied dobro

[Michael Messer]

These guitars can sound great. They picked up a bad reputation when everyone started to think they know what they're talking about and when the new National company and Chinese guitars came into being, but they were built by the Dopyera family and their idea of the 10.5" cone was another twist on their design of the Fiddle Edge Dobros that could take either a Dobro spider cone or a National biscuit cone. Some of them can sound really dull, but when setup well and the cone is in good shape they sound fine.

My first resonator guitar was a Dobro model 33H and at the time I was so obsessed with vintage Nationals and Dobros that as soon as one turned up I sold the 33H. When I hear recordings I made on that guitar which are now between 40 and 45 years ago, I think it sounds really good.

A set of 15-56 should definitely perk it up.

Shine On
Michael

[disparatesoul]

Thanks Michael

In the end i went for 13s mainly influenced by the gauge that was already on there - would going up to 15s require any other changes ?

At some point i'll probably take it to Steve Evans to have a look as he's not that far from me - but at the moment i'm enjoying playing it !

I know with the difference in cone these have their own tone but am i correct in thinking these are more closely aligned to the style Os than other nationals ?

thanks again
Andy

[Michael Messer]

My pleasure. I’m pleased to hear that you are happy with your guitar. The only difference between a set of 13-56 and 15-56 is the top string. All the other strings are the same in both sets.

While your guitar has a great sound, it is a unique sound that is only heard in OMI brass Dobros. It is not just the size of cone that makes it unique, the tiny mandolin f holes, the gauge of the brass and the dimensions of all its components make it sound like a brass bodied OMI Dobro. It is not really a close relation and sounds different to National Style O guitars.

Shine On
Michael

[disparatesoul]

Thanks Michael, thats great to know.

i'm loving it at the moment - just need to improve my slide playing now but having a guitar i like the sound of is certainly making me play more!

[twang1]

I have a biscuit OMI brass Dobro that I bought in Los Angeles many years ago. It sounds very warm and full; not as powerful as some NRP but warmer.
Only thing I don't like is the neck that I wish it was bigger. Mine was equipped with a tele-like pick up already installed at the factory (a bit electric sounding but not bad at all). I recorded many tracks in many people's CDs with that Dobro and it always sounded kind of "right" and never too trebly.
Frank

[disparatesoul]

May 24, 2023 13:44:56 GMT twang1 said:

I have a biscuit OMI brass Dobro that I bought in Los Angeles many years ago. It sounds very warm and full; not as powerful as some NRP but warmer.
Only thing I don't like is the neck that I wish it was bigger. Mine was equipped with a tele-like pick up already installed at the factory (a bit electric sounding but not bad at all). I recorded many tracks in many people's CDs with that Dobro and it always sounded kind of "right" and never too trebly.
Frank

Thanks Frank - thats a good description, its certainly warmer than i was expecting - i also have a 90s wooden dobro with a spider cone and whilst it isnt quite as warm sounding it isnt that far off.  it also has a lot of sustain and the reverb is beautiful.

I really like it, I paid £800 for it which i think is a very good price. It was one of those when i wasnt really looking but it was too good a price to turn down!

Andy