I recently bought a project Dobro on ebay. The seller stated the headstock had been broken and repaired. I looked at with a loupe and blacklight and saw no evidence of a break. What might have been mistaken for a break literally looked like a hair that had gotten into the wet finish. I need to clarify that some refinishing has been done on this Dobro; how much, by who, and when is a mystery for the ages. The Dobro looks like a typical Model 60, no surprises. The top appears to have been painted black and was likely a professional job. The entire guitar looks like it was clear coated at some point; not a horrible job and could be buffed and improved. Looking closely at the headstock, there is no logo but there was what appeared to be a slightly proud outline of a cross. I assumed it to be a decal and carefully swiped at the front of the headstock with some lacquer thinner on a rag. Turned out to be an inlaid abalone cross. This doesn't seem like something the Dopyeras would have ever done, but I would like to hear anyone's opinion. There is no serial number stamped into the end of the headstock. The end of the headstock has been sanded. I can't say if it's been sanded enough to obliterate the deep stampings that I've seen, so I'm on the fence as to whether it ever HAD a serial number. The tuners are non original based on the fact there are other holes under the existing plates. I would like to know when Dobro began using adjustable truss rods, as that will place a "no earlier than" date for this one. I'm guessing the adjustable truss rod was an OMI thing. Am I right? The fretboard extension is only held down by two screws, not four. A quick google image search tells me they went to four screws around 1973 or 4. So based on these observations, I'm guessing this might be early 1970s. The inlaid cross is a whole different thing, and unless someone has anything to offer, it will remain a mystery. I would love to hear anyone's opinion as to the age of this one; Dobro details are hard to come by.
Here is a link to a gallery of photos: postimg.cc/gallery/yW21b19
Here is a link to a youtube video of under a blacklight: youtube.com/shorts/dDJNePUZNbk...esFd-kPHF
Taking a short break from raking leaves while the light is still good here, so I can't get into any further details right now, but one thing I can tell you is that it is definitely not a prewar Dobro.
They didn't have truss rods, and no adjustable rods in particular. Gibson owned the patent on the invention beginning in the early 1920s, and by the time it expired in the 1940s, Dobro had already been out of production at some point in 1941 since metal was required for the war effort.
Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 12/10/2024 15:49:59
I seem to remember that bolt into the heel as a late '60s thing.
quote:
Originally posted by WildemanI seem to remember that bolt into the heel as a late '60s thing.
I had a 1973 Model 114 (weird small dreadnaught shape) and it had a screw at the heel but it was going through the back. That was an odd duck. Almost had a Hofner construction vibe going on.
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