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 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Grandmother's Dobro Model and Year


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.resohangout.com/archive/58168

fairbanx22 - Posted - 07/31/2023:  17:46:22


Hello!

I'm new to the community here, and I'd love to get some advice. My grandmother passed away a few years ago, and she left me her Dobro from when she was young. She was born in 1928 I believe, and she took Dobro lessons when she was 6 or 7. I'm not sure if her parents bought it new or used, but she had kept it in a closet for 75+ years. I can't figure out what model it is. It looks like the Angelus model from the 1930s, but this has the Dobro badge on the peghead and has a serial number of 867. Any ideas? Thank you all in advance!

Aaron

fairbanx22 - Posted - 07/31/2023:  17:47:49


I'm not sure if the photos posted, hopefully this works.


MarkinSonoma - Posted - 07/31/2023:  18:14:10


Wow - that's in great shape! 75 years in a closet will do that for you - if you happen to be a guitar. wink



It is in fact a Model 19, circa 1934. It's not "officially" an Angelus, which would have had a label that read "Angelus - A Dobro Product." 



 The rounded slots in the headstock (as opposed to being square) would indicate this is a Regal-built Dobro made in Chicago as opposed to a Los Angeles  guitar. 



This was early in Regal's tenure as a contract  builder of Dobros aside from the originals by the Dopyera brothers. 



This guitar probably doesn't have a soundwell and was considered a student model. The lower priced Dobros in those days have F-holes instead of the typical round metal screens on the upper bout. 



I wish I had a dollar for every time a photo and/or description of the neck profile is missing in posts asking for details. I'm guessing this one is a squareneck for lap style playing. 


Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 07/31/2023 18:24:20

Biggfoot44 - Posted - 07/31/2023:  20:36:57


Can't see the actual neck , but the nut is clearly Lap Style .

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 07/31/2023:  21:19:31


quote:

Originally posted by Biggfoot44

Can't see the actual neck , but the nut is clearly Lap Style 

 




True. 

Dan Mahoney - Posted - 08/01/2023:  04:39:26


You can see the edge of the neck in the second picture. Definitely a squareneck.

wlgiii - Posted - 08/01/2023:  05:45:37


"Grandma's dobro". That is too cool.

fairbanx22 - Posted - 08/01/2023:  07:09:00


Yes, it's definitely a squareneck! Should have put that in the description. Thank you all for your help!

Dobrotome - Posted - 08/02/2023:  19:58:37


Not an authority...but the tail piece seems wrong? Kick my tail if I'm messing things up.

SamCy - Posted - 08/03/2023:  10:17:04


Can you see through the coverplate if it has a lug cone and short spider?

SamCy - Posted - 08/08/2023:  07:45:53


You can make tuning more convenient by swapping the tuners right for left, so that the keys point up.

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