babyblueduolian - Posted - 08/03/2023:  14:30:32

Trying to figure out what I have it’s a 86/87 duolian but I’ve never seen this brilliant baby blue or a double stamp, the collector who sold it to my dad 20 years ago said it was John Denver’s chrome that he sent back in to get resprayed cuz he wanted a baby blue dobro. There was no paperwork to confirm or deny this but it would be interesting to find out. The blurry picture is writing inside it looks like BLS 9/87 or B/S 9/87

Edited by - babyblueduolian on 08/03/2023 14:31:37

 

hlpdobro - Posted - 08/03/2023:  14:59:28

I don't know much about National serial numbers but National Reso-Phonic wasn't around until 88 with first guitars made in 89 according to the Wiki and George Gruhn.

That actually looks like an OMI serial. What does the logo look like on the headstock?

Like I say..Don't know much myself.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 08/03/2023:  15:03:07

As Howard wrote, the number on the headstock looks like one from OMI Dobro.

It looks like someone screwed up the last numeral next to the B (B=metal body), started out with 7 and changed it to 6.

First number (8) = decade and the 6 indicates the year, so it's 1986. 

Not sure why the two sets of numbers in the middle are separated - but it could just be an accident, we've seen plenty of Dobros where the serial number on the headstock was stamped sort of randomly. 

Maybe the BLS business has something to do with the initials of the person who did the re-spray. I like the baby blue. 

I did a quick Google and YouTube search to see if I could find anything  with Denver playing the guitar, but came up empty.

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 08/03/2023 15:07:08

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 08/03/2023:  15:09:01

After additional googling, I found a closeup of the decal for a similar version of this model  - It's an OMI Dobro Duolian. 

 

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 08/03/2023 15:15:35