duanef - Posted - 04/29/2022:  07:58:25

I have a Dobro from 1929-1933 as best I can tell. Can you help me date it?
Reading Gruhn's guide I have to surmise that he is wrong about the 4000 series of serial numbers for California made dobros. However, how can I be sure this was made in CA?
My serial number (stamped on top of the headstock is 4043. The Gruhn guide (this list was 'compiled by Mike Cass') says: "no 4000's". The Nashville repairman who sold it to me in the 90's said that the Dobro factory in Chicago burnt down and that was where they kept the records.
Is that true?

The 3000 series is dated 1930-31 and the 5000's from 32-33. So I think I'm safe if I say it's 1931-32. Your view?

So I thought I might date this girl from the cover plate:
It has the "clock-point" screw arrangement as they call it: 12 screws all on the hour. But they refer to 'high rise' and 'low rise' cover plates.
Which do I have? I cannot find any photos showing the difference.

If I can post photos I will. Preparing to sell. maybe I can share whatever ad i run with you. Planning on Reverb and Facebook marketplace. If you have a better suggestion as to where to advertise, I'm all ears.
Thanks for reading!!
Duane

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 04/29/2022:  10:47:20

Conflicting information on the serial number. I was reading an online version of the Gruhn guide and there is no mention of anything having to do with "no 4000's" - it shows circa 1933. I use the word "circa" because you have to take all these dates with a grain of salt. 

There is the website with the screen background in blue a lot of us have used, and the 4000's are listed as "mostly Regal." 

Yes, we need photos. Assuming you have a smart phone, you can share photos from your phone library and they are easy to post below. 

Without seeing the guitar I would guess because of the 12 o'clock screw position it is a California built guitar. Another way to tell is if the slots on the peg head are squared off it's California. If they are rounded off it's built by Regal in Chicago, except the screw holes facing the fretboard are at the 11 and one o'clock positions. 

First I've ever heard  of the Regal factory in Chicago burning down. Not sure about that at all. 

Welcome to the convoluted history of the Dobro guitar. 

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 04/29/2022 10:48:14

rcc56 - Posted - 04/30/2022:  14:18:10

The 1st edition of Gruhn's Guide, published in 1991, does state "no 4000's."
The 2nd edition, published in 1999, states "4000s . . .1933 - Regal-made, a few California-made."
I don't have the most recent edition.

I also have not heard of a Regal factory fire. As far as I know, Regal was still producing instruments under various brands up to the entry of the US into WWII.

The square-ended headstock slots are generally considered to be the definitive trait in confirming California manufacture of Dobro's.

Wildeman - Posted - 05/01/2022:  08:26:05

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkinSonoma

Conflicting information on the serial number. I was reading an online version of the Gruhn guide and there is no mention of anything having to do with "no 4000's" - it shows circa 1933. I use the word "circa" because you have to take all these dates with a grain of salt. 

There is the website with the screen background in blue a lot of us have used, and the 4000's are listed as "mostly Regal." 

Yes, we need photos. Assuming you have a smart phone, you can share photos from your phone library and they are easy to post below. 

Without seeing the guitar I would guess because of the 12 o'clock screw position it is a California built guitar. Another way to tell is if the slots on the peg head are squared off it's California. If they are rounded off it's built by Regal in Chicago, except the screw holes facing the fretboard are at the 11 and one o'clock positions. 

First I've ever heard  of the Regal factory in Chicago burning down. Not sure about that at all. 

Welcome to the convoluted history of the Dobro guitar. 

 

---

Convoluted for sure! Mark, I have a Dobro made by Regal with the 12:00 cover plate and rounded slots.

 

duanef - Posted - 05/01/2022:  08:56:21

Thanks. I did not see an upload button when i posted
Yes, square slots and yes clock point screws.
Funky condition, but SOUNDS great.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 05/01/2022:  09:49:37

It looks like what you have is a Model 37, same as mine. The serial number on my guitar is 3675. 

Wildeman - Posted - 05/01/2022:  12:38:37

That's cool! Do you still have the pickup that was on it?

duanef - Posted - 05/01/2022:  13:46:59

First, to Wildeman: no I don't have the pickup:came with that cut out. I suspect humbucker was there. I'd consider a Lace dobro pickup ...those thin ones... if I was not selling. I love the bronze strings so they would not pickup the pick up...
Right? It has a piezo pickup mounted on spider bridge... which I also never really use...

MarkinSonoma: thanks very much for that model number..that's exactly what I wanted ! makes a better ad.

Finally, where you you look to sell? Reverb takes 7%, not bad. Ebay taks 15 I think..but reaches more people... Facebook marketplace?
In any case, I'm ready to ship it...my current town here in Canada, people could never afford it!

Thanks again!!

Dobrojan - Posted - 05/02/2022:  10:13:09

Handcuffs???  A wrist tone bar? :)

Edited by - Dobrojan on 05/02/2022 10:14:22

duanef - Posted - 05/02/2022:  10:39:21

Ha ha yes the rare times I played outside my house I carried the case with handcuffs. Just too much value to risk some punks taking it from me!

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 05/02/2022:  14:10:45

quote:

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Originally posted by Wildeman

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkinSonoma

Conflicting information on the serial number. I was reading an online version of the Gruhn guide and there is no mention of anything having to do with "no 4000's" - it shows circa 1933. I use the word "circa" because you have to take all these dates with a grain of salt. 

There is the website with the screen background in blue a lot of us have used, and the 4000's are listed as "mostly Regal." 

Yes, we need photos. Assuming you have a smart phone, you can share photos from your phone library and they are easy to post below. 

Without seeing the guitar I would guess because of the 12 o'clock screw position it is a California built guitar. Another way to tell is if the slots on the peg head are squared off it's California. If they are rounded off it's built by Regal in Chicago, except the screw holes facing the fretboard are at the 11 and one o'clock positions. 

First I've ever heard  of the Regal factory in Chicago burning down. Not sure about that at all. 

Welcome to the convoluted history of the Dobro guitar. 

 

---

Convoluted for sure! Mark, I have a Dobro made by Regal with the 12:00 cover plate and rounded slots.

---

Yours could have been an early Regal built in Chicago and shipped to Los Angeles for final setup and assembly when they were still doing the 12 o'clock look. Usually it was just the guitar bodies, not the necks. 

You might remember how the light bulb went on with the Dopyeras  at some and they realized that shipping the bodies to California and back to Illinois was inefficient, so they discontinued the practice so that the Regals were built start-to-finish in Chicago. 

Eventually they closed the Los Angeles factory and moved the whole deal to Chicago. 

Wildeman - Posted - 05/02/2022:  18:14:25

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkinSonoma

quote:

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Originally posted by Wildeman

quote:

---

Originally posted by MarkinSonoma

Conflicting information on the serial number. I was reading an online version of the Gruhn guide and there is no mention of anything having to do with "no 4000's" - it shows circa 1933. I use the word "circa" because you have to take all these dates with a grain of salt. 

There is the website with the screen background in blue a lot of us have used, and the 4000's are listed as "mostly Regal." 

Yes, we need photos. Assuming you have a smart phone, you can share photos from your phone library and they are easy to post below. 

Without seeing the guitar I would guess because of the 12 o'clock screw position it is a California built guitar. Another way to tell is if the slots on the peg head are squared off it's California. If they are rounded off it's built by Regal in Chicago, except the screw holes facing the fretboard are at the 11 and one o'clock positions. 

First I've ever heard  of the Regal factory in Chicago burning down. Not sure about that at all. 

Welcome to the convoluted history of the Dobro guitar. 

 

---

Convoluted for sure! Mark, I have a Dobro made by Regal with the 12:00 cover plate and rounded slots.

---

Yours could have been an early Regal built in Chicago and shipped to Los Angeles for final setup and assembly when they were still doing the 12 o'clock look. Usually it was just the guitar bodies, not the necks. 

You might remember how the light bulb went on with the Dopyeras  at some and they realized that shipping the bodies to California and back to Illinois was inefficient, so they discontinued the practice so that the Regals were built start-to-finish in Chicago. 

Eventually they closed the Los Angeles factory and moved the whole deal to Chicago. 

 

---

I've considered that but mine has the rounded  headstock slots and the Regal body shape, also no holes at the fretboard end, no serial number, short spider with lug cone, no binding front or back. It's a strange one, I know it's been refinished but everything appears original to the guitar to me, no extra cover plate holes.

duanef - Posted - 05/04/2022:  12:48:41

Thanks to all who replied. I'm getting ready with the listing on reverb. Is it against this forum's policy to place the link? And, do you think I'm asking too much? 3000 USD.

Dzyfyngrz - Posted - 05/04/2022:  13:37:53

It’s beat. That’s about double what I’d pay.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 05/04/2022:  14:12:38

Duane, unless I missed it and you mentioned it earlier, is this a round neck? It's difficult to tell from the photo. 

If it is, they are not as desirable as squarenecks in the pre WW2 category. I think part of that is due to the fact that players looking for vintage round neck resonators for regular style guitar and bottleneck lean toward old Nationals. 

Your two photos only make for a difficult appraisal. 

You are wondering if you can ask $3K - is this Canadian or U.S.? Because Steve pretty much nailed it. It's rough - I think $1500 U.S. would be a good score if you can pull it off. I'm thinking more like $1200, $1300 U.S. tops. 

 

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 05/04/2022:  14:15:01

And I don't know anything about this forum's policy to post a link to Reverb, you would need to contact Eric the owner. 

Dzyfyngrz - Posted - 05/04/2022:  15:16:02

In your position I'd consign it at the Halifax Folklore Centre. Captive market with no inventory (lived there a couple of years in a prior millenium.) It's not a highly desirable instrument, and you're as likely to do well there as anywhere else, with much less hassle.

And tell them I said nice things about them.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 05/04/2022:  15:31:18

Hey Ken - sorry - I wrote Steve and meant you. Since we have multiple members from the Portland area I had Steve on the brain when I read your post. 

Dzyfyngrz - Posted - 05/04/2022:  17:53:40

No problem!