Pics/prices from the mid-seventies:
Edited by - Iceman6937 on 11/01/2021 11:01:24
Cool stuff, especially since i have a 33H on its way to me now. My first Dobro was a OMI Original Hound dog, wish i still had it.
Nice find Michael.
I remember those prices. That was the year I got my first Dobro which I still have - an early '30s Model 37. It was a very good deal from a local family. As a starving student, no way could I afford a new one from the OMI Dobro factory in Huntington Beach. Though I did order a modern (at the time) case from them.
There was a great music store near me in the Bay Area town of Los Gatos called Union Grove Music, and they always had 5-6 OMI Dobros in stock. I lusted more for the bell brass models than the wood bodies, but as I was investigating I came to the realization that none of the big dog bluegrass guys like Uncle Josh and Mike Auldridge played the metal guitars.
It worked out okay once I learned that having a prewar Dobro was cooler than a shiny new OMI built in the 1970s.
I bought a new 60D that year but gave up 4 years to Uncle Sam to do it. We are not shiny anymore.
quote:
Originally posted by MarkinSonomaNice find Michael.
I remember those prices. That was the year I got my first Dobro which I still have - an early '30s Model 37. It was a very good deal from a local family. As a starving student, no way could I afford a new one from the OMI Dobro factory in Huntington Beach. Though I did order a modern (at the time) case from them.
There was a great music store near me in the Bay Area town of Los Gatos called Union Grove Music, and they always had 5-6 OMI Dobros in stock. I lusted more for the bell brass models than the wood bodies, but as I was investigating I came to the realization that none of the big dog bluegrass guys like Uncle Josh and Mike Auldridge played the metal guitars.
It worked out okay once I learned that having a prewar Dobro was cooler than a shiny new OMI built in the 1970s.
Was Union Grove still a OMI dealer in '90-'91? I called just about everywhere (i thought) around the Bay Area when i got the bug, the only one's i could find were at a little store in Alameda where i had to put the cheapest one on layaway, these are some good memories for me, 19 or 20, probably making under $10.00 an hour trying desperately to track down a reso....
I think the Los Gatos location was closed by '91, don't recall for sure - I was living in Carmel at that point.
They still have the store in Santa Cruz. It had been downtown for many years but moved a little south to Soquel Drive.
If you're ever down that way, the best acoustic instrument store by far in Santa Cruz is Sylvan Music.
I'm about 17 years older than you, I think I was making under $5 an hour when I was drooling over shiny new Dobros at Union Grove in 1976.
Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 11/03/2021 10:04:56
In case ya'll need any picks and such:
Edited by - Iceman6937 on 11/03/2021 12:55:01
quote:
Originally posted by MarkinSonomaI think the Los Gatos location was closed by '91, don't recall for sure - I was living in Carmel at that point.
They still have the store in Santa Cruz. It had been downtown for many years but moved a little south to Soquel Drive.
If you're ever down that way, the best acoustic instrument store by far in Santa Cruz is Sylvan Music.
I'm about 17 years older than you, I think I was making under $5 an hour when I was drooling over shiny new Dobros at Union Grove in 1976.
We've been wanting a Santa Cruz trip so maybe i can check it out. Folks today have it so easy, so many choices in guitars, all just mouse click away. I remember about a year or two after i got my OMI i decided i had to have a National, that was ridiculously hard to find, i ended up buying a Duolian from Elderly over the phone!
You did well finding a old Dobro.
Here's a flier i have.
My first Dobro was the model 114, roundneck, that I bought in 1974, $280.
Got my sweet model 33 yesterday, its a killer guitar. I gotta order a Grover nut for it so i can try it lap style.
A OMI model 27 Deluxe popped up locally, man, its a great guitar! It has to be the fanciest wood OMI ive ever seen, the tone is amazing too. Ive never seen one before and i've got some gas pains for it now.
quote:
Originally posted by MarkinSonomaI think the Los Gatos location was closed by '91, don't recall for sure - I was living in Carmel at that point.
They still have the store in Santa Cruz. It had been downtown for many years but moved a little south to Soquel Drive.
If you're ever down that way, the best acoustic instrument store by far in Santa Cruz is Sylvan Music.
I'm about 17 years older than you, I think I was making under $5 an hour when I was drooling over shiny new Dobros at Union Grove in 1976.
quote:
Originally posted by MarkinSonomaI'm about 17 years older than you, I think I was making under $5 an hour when I was drooling over shiny new Dobros at Union Grove in 1976.
Minimum wage in '76 was $2.30, so when I got a performing job at Marriott's Great America for $3.50, I was ecstatic. You must have felt like Rockefeller if you were making 5 bucks an hour! 
Edited by - Oboe Cadobro on 11/15/2021 18:23:42
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