OpryStation - Posted - 02/04/2014:  18:49:51

Yep, I'm new ..

I did look the site over so i didn't ask the same question .. least i did my best searching first.

I looked over the web also and found the vintage guitar guy`s website with the blue color pages ..

My ser# does not match any pattern as i saw them ..  My number is  ( D  790  4 ) and thats it.

Can anybody date this and why dont my numbers mate any pattern found?

Oh, Is my Dobro a D66  or a D66s  ?

otdobro - Posted - 02/04/2014:  19:12:25

It's a 1974 model 66. The "S" would indicate a sunburst finish, which wasn't available in that model. "D" simply indicates a wood body which all carved top models were, so no need for the "D" designation.

  The following is from the site you mentioned.

1974-1979 OMI Dobro: Y (#)### D configuration.  NOTE  the "Y" and "D" are reversed from where they belong. I contacted the site owner, and he doesn't seem interested in making a correction. It should read  D (#)### Y

 

  Y is last digit of the year (if this number is "3" it is actually 1974).

  3 or 4 numerals in center are instrument ranking for year starting with 101.

  D is body type: D=wood, B=brass, M=steel or mandolin.

 

Edited by - otdobro on 02/04/2014 19:18:11

Slideman1939 - Posted - 02/04/2014:  21:22:12

Additional info: there were 4 sandblast design patterns in Dobro history: In 1929 it was model 65 and the lower center had two circles looking like a skull (Skullshead pattern#1) In 1934 the Skullshead was replaced by a letter "D" ( same basic pattern) and was model 66. Yours is letter D pattern as pictured. No production from 1941 until the 1960's. When Ed Dopyera began building again in the O.M.I. period he revived Letter "D" pattern#2. The third pattern was in effect 1982 to 1992. It was less intricate but also had a letter "D". The fourth change was in the Gibson era around 1995-6 and model 66 then had an art nouveau "lacey swirls" pattern. The original design was based on a pattern in czech artwork and was suggested to her husband by the (first) Mrs. John Dopyera. The concept of sandblasting thru a stencil to make an instrument look carved is unique to Dobro. In1934 there were some exceptions and the same design pattern was done in a two tone of dark green and  gray on both round neck and squareneck.The concept was unique (at the time) and the Dopyera's pictured the backside of model 66 in their NEWSPAPER ADS in the 1931 Los Angeles Times. It is a decorative thing only and the tone and dimensions of model 66 is the same as all other model 60D. 

 

OpryStation - Posted - 02/05/2014:  05:37:27

RE . It's a 1974 model 66. The "S" would indicate a sunburst finish, which wasn't available in that model. "D" simply indicates a wood body which all carved top models were, so no need for the "D" designation.

 But mine is sunburst ?

OpryStation - Posted - 02/05/2014:  05:58:32

quote:  Thanks for the great info .. Slideman1939 ..

Can i ask why my 1932 Dobro 56 dont have ser# but when i look on ebay today 2/5/14 folks have 1930 wood body guitars and they have 4 digit ser# pictured on the headstock. ?

Here is mine .. Maybe its not what i think it is ?

---

Originally posted by Slideman1939

 

Additional info: there were 4 sandblast design patterns in Dobro history: In 1929 it was model 65 and the lower center had two circles looking like a skull (Skullshead pattern#1) In 1934 the Skullshead was replaced by a letter "D" ( same basic pattern) and was model 66. Yours is letter D pattern as pictured. No production from 1941 until the 1960's. When Ed Dopyera began building again in the O.M.I. period he revived Letter "D" pattern#2. The third pattern was in effect 1982 to 1992. It was less intricate but also had a letter "D". The fourth change was in the Gibson era around 1995-6 and model 66 then had an art nouveau "lacey swirls" pattern. The original design was based on a pattern in czech artwork and was suggested to her husband by the (first) Mrs. John Dopyera. The concept of sandblasting thru a stencil to make an instrument look carved is unique to Dobro. In1934 there were some exceptions and the same design pattern was done in a two tone of dark green and  gray on both round neck and squareneck.The concept was unique (at the time) and the Dopyera's pictured the backside of model 66 in their NEWSPAPER ADS in the 1931 Los Angeles Times. It is a decorative thing only and the tone and dimensions of model 66 is the same as all other model 60D. 

 

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otdobro - Posted - 02/05/2014:  06:00:31

quote:

---

Originally posted by OpryStation

 

RE . It's a 1974 model 66. The "S" would indicate a sunburst finish, which wasn't available in that model. "D" simply indicates a wood body which all carved top models were, so no need for the "D" designation.

 But mine is sunburst ?

 You may be right on the sunburst color. That might have been standard on the 66. I was going by my 1975 OMI catalog which lists it as a model 66

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OpryStation - Posted - 02/05/2014:  07:33:35

Thanks OT for the reply ..

I'm pro bass thumper just wanting to learn other instruments better.
I have been messin with mandolin for awhile but want to expand my jam session skills.

Slideman1939 - Posted - 02/05/2014:  14:12:00

In reply to above: the "S" does NOT stand for sunburst . It stands for Squareneck.Jim Warren's info is correct on model 66 in the 1970's OMI catalogs. By the 1980's more variations were available. Description as follows based on a Feb. 14, 1986 OMI catalog:  66--Round neck/slothead ($706.00)  P66--Round neck/SOLID peghead ($748.00)  66-S  Squareneck/Slothead ($680.00)  P66-S  Squareneck/solid head ($750.00).  In other parts of the OMI price list the "S" could stand for sunburst however all carved model 66's (post war) had the dark brown/yellow shading ONLY. For this reason the term 66-S is describing a SQUARENECK /slothead. rather than a sunburst option.....because the sunburst is already built in. It's basically the same model as the 1970's BUT by this time in the 1986 list the model number had changed slightly and they were using the newer sandblast pattern#3 (effective since 1982). In this time, Don Young was V.P. and shop foreman and it was just before he left O.M.I. to found his company National Resophonic.The list prices above are "high' and the key retailers would discount off list so real street price on a 66-S would be around $599-620 at the higher volume key retailers. OMI had a problem getting smaller music shops in smaller cities to stock or sell the line in the 1980's. The top 4 retailers of model 66 in the 1980's were a California shop, an Atlanta shop, and Elderly Instruments ( Mich.) and Mandolin Bros. (Staten Island). I own 66-S from both the 80's and the 70's and have always been fascinated with the history of this model.

otdobro - Posted - 02/05/2014:  14:31:24

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slideman1939

 

>In reply to above: the "S" does NOT stand for sunburst . It stands for Squareneck.

My catalog shows (and pictures)

60-S as sunburst roundneck

60-S-S as a sunburst squareneck

60-D as a standard roundneck

60-D-S as a standard squareneck

likewise for the 60-D-N blond top

and the 60-N all blonde ( of which I have one )   

When I get a minute, I'll scan the catalog and post it.                                                                                                  

 

 

 

Edited by - otdobro on 02/05/2014 14:33:41

otdobro - Posted - 02/05/2014:  15:31:15

  Here we are

OpryStation - Posted - 02/05/2014:  15:45:30

I'll be dern .. Thanks guys for the fun education .. Any input regarding my old dobro pictured above ?

Aaron

Slideman1939 - Posted - 02/05/2014:  21:11:10

Confusingly both above opinions are correct. In Jim's older 1975 O.M.I. catalog there was ONLY ONE carved model choice--model 66. In that same catalog in the (many) selections of model 60 the letter "S" stood for sunburst.  11 years later in Tom's 1986 OMI catalog there was an expanded section of 4 choices IN A MODEL 66 SECTION and there the suffix -"S" described the model 66-S as a Squareneck/ Slothead and the "S" did not mean sunbursting if describing a carved model 66---they all had the same dark brown and yellow finish.  11 years after Jim's catalog a ""66" was a roundneck/ slothead and a "66-S" was a squareneck/slothead  in my Feb. 1986 OMI catalog.

Dobro66S - Posted - 02/06/2014:  04:31:41

Jim I noticed in the Catalog picture on the right ,,
It shows a body depth of 4 1/2".
That has to be a misprint?
Must have been 3 1/2"....?
Thanks Great History again guys!

otdobro - Posted - 02/06/2014:  07:09:04

 You've got a good eye Mike ! I just measured my 3 OMI's, and my '75 and'76 ones are 3" at the neck end, and 3 1/4" at the other. My 1987 is 3 1/8" at the neck end, and 3 3/8" at the tailpiece. A builder would no doubt tend to notice this right off the bat. The catalog pictured is from 1975 by the way.    Jim

lhoward6 - Posted - 02/06/2014:  07:29:12

right now i am stuck in a blizzard, but just as soon as i can get to it, i will look at my 1986 OMi Dobro, which i bought with the original paperwork and a catalog. maybe i can add something constructive to this topic. Louis ( minus 5 here now)

OpryStation - Posted - 02/06/2014:  18:35:35

Got my OMI Cyclops from UPS this am .. Bought it from Pa.
Neck was loose .. Took it all apart and the shim and screw were just laying in the bottom.
I put it back together and added some to the wedge and the neck is tight as can be ..
Cleaned it all, made sure the cone sat flat and the spider was correct. Put a set of light
strings on it for now .. Omg .. Loud as hell . The bass is fantastic also. Was wondering about
if the single hole would change the sound much.. It don't seem to. I love this thing.
I can't find another anywhere.

Ps. The inside is all sanded smooth as a baby's butt and everything is rounded off inside.
Unlike my 66 or my old 56 where they look like rough lumber inside.

OpryStation - Posted - 02/06/2014:  19:15:45

Pic of my new toy