New Member With My Dad's Old 1936 Dobro Model 37 Squareneck.

[wally]

      I have been a lurker here for a long time. My Dad studied Hawaiian guitar in the late 1930's,and went to war for our country in 42. He promply was shot in his right hand his first day in battle, and it was injured beyond repair. So during my childhood, I always wondered what was in that guitar case in the closet? I'm 66 years old now, and since I'm a flattop picker, my family thought that I should have his lightly played Dobro. I also got all of his study material, which consists of hundreds of Hawaiian Guitar Songs, complete with drawings of Hula Girls and Palm Trees. Almost every one shoud be in a picture frame.

       Guys at The ResoHangout identified Dad's Dobro as a '36 Dobro Model 37. It has the smaller black full (non-slotted) headstock, and it still lives in its oroginal, worn case with Dad's Tone Bars and fingerpicks. When Dad would show it to me, he always said that it had never had even one screw removed, and it's completely untouched, other than a few crispy tuner buttons that I replaced. I listed it for sale a few years after I received it during a REALLY tough time. Jerry Douglas saw it on the web, and contacted me to buy it. He was grabbed by the headstock, Year and Model, and he really loved the story of my Dad's WW2 connection to the Dobro. I had decided to keep it since it was my Dad's, But since it was Jerry, I thought it would be cool to have his Dobro in the collection of one of the World's best players. I was more interested in trading him for one of his acoustics, and he wanted only to buy it for cash. I have since found out that he never sells any of his guitars, so I was asking for something that wasn't going to happen.

       That was a while back, and thanks to Youtube, I am learning a lot of licks and tunings from none other than Jerry Douglas. He is such a gifted player. And I have learned a lot while lurking as a guest on this great forum, and guys (and gals?) around here have helped me learn more about Dobros, and for that I thank You all. What a cool bunch of people! I look forward to more of Your Genius Dobro knowledge.
         
       

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[Michael Messer]

Hello Wally,

Welcome to our forum.

I can understand why Jerry contacted you. That is an absolutely beautiful model 37 in fantastic condition, and the story attached to it makes it a special guitar. As time goes by, the value of this Dobro will rise. It is possibly the cleanest 37 of that period I have seen.







Shine On
Michael

[wally]

Thanks Michael. I'm really glad that I didn't sell it to Jerry, or anyone else. I'm glad I still have Dad's guitar. Had he lived he would be 100 years old this year. As for condition, there isn't a scratch. I think because it's probably the only possession that my Dad had as a young man. The Depression really affected him, and he took great care with it. I wonder why I'm kind of OCD myself.
Also, Thank You for fixing my pictures. I am really low tech. And Your Forum is truly GREAT!

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[Michael Messer]

Indeed, it is an absolute beauty! Play and treasure it.

Shine On
Michael

[wally]

Now I need one of Your's to keep it company. Your dobros have such an awesome tone. I like the tone of the old ones and also the great sound of Your art in wood and strings. I've always been glad that they didn't stamp the number on Dad's headstock. I'm sure that the teacher came to his country school and that Dad bought it from him. Because of Dad all four of us kids have played guitar since we were young, but I stuck with it.