Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ben on February 8, 2011 at 5:47am

Nope, it is junk. I'll help you dispose of it properly. I'm sure we can get Keni Lee to weigh in before long.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on February 8, 2011 at 6:20am

Hows it smell Judy?

Ok, I cant speak with knowledge of the date/serial number. But I can tell you ANY early Dobro with a neck that isnt desperately in need of a reset is a HUGE find. Treasure that one!

Dont tell me what you paid. I believe I might faint.

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on February 8, 2011 at 7:49am

Ben is a funny guy. LOL

I am more knowledgable about Nationals rather than Dobros, but it looks like a real great find.

Maybe this page can be helpful:

  http://home.provide.net/~cfh/dobro.html

Although, it is titled Metal body Dobros, scroll down for applicable information. 

Enjoy, Keni Lee

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Permalink Reply by Jason Taulbee on February 8, 2011 at 8:18am

Judy?  who the hell is Judy lol

 

The neck is (visually at least) in EXCELLENT shape... i tensioned up the old crusty strings that were on it, tuned it to a standard gtr tuning (all i can do by ear), and it frets up excellently, no buzz at all (from the frets or the resonator-YAY), maybe a little low action for my type of slide playing (read:crude), but chords up perfectly all the way down the neck.  There's only a tiny tiny tiny bit of neck warp, and looking at the original finish, i'm pretty sure the neck has never been taken off.  I am in 7th heaven, as I actually found  it on the top shelf in the 'pantry' of a basement of a house that our shop bid for the entire estate on, blew the dust off the case and about fainted when i opened it up.  The even better story is that since we bought the whole estate for a flat fee, had already pulled lots of good stuff out of there, and nobody knew the guitar was even in there, when i showed it to the boss (my dad), he actually gave it to me for FREE as a bonus :)  God, life is good working for family (some days at least).  I can tell you that you pick through a hell of a lot of nasty oysters to find a pearl like this one... 

Thanks for letting me brag :)  I just can't wait till i slap a new set of martin nickel resonator strings on there, tune it open D, get out my bottleneck (I haven't yet put a slide to it) and let it rip!!  Hopefully tonight.....

P.S.  Anybody have a vintage proper set of Dobro black key 3 to a side tuner to sell/trade me, so i can get this back to it's original condition?

Mark Bliss said:

Hows it smell Judy?

Ok, I cant speak with knowledge of the date/serial number. But I can tell you ANY early Dobro with a neck that isnt desperately in need of a reset is a HUGE find. Treasure that one!

Dont tell me what you paid. I believe I might faint.

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on February 8, 2011 at 11:50am

Well don't keep her tuned up with those old strings. Entirely too much tension for an old neck. Not to mention the old cone too. There are no truss rods in these old guitars. Open D is okay, but you might want to see how she handles a slightly lower tuning. Maybe a full step down to key of C (CGCegc) Of course, when you get new strings on her. www.elderly.com sells very good replacement tuners. Don't cheap out. Quality machines are essential to keeping your instrument in perfect tune.  

Enjoy, Keni Lee    

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on February 9, 2011 at 12:55am

free huh? I told you not to tell. I feel a little ill, and have a funny taste in my mouth......

Just so you know, I discovered CB nation and this whole primitive instrument revival phenomenon while looking high and low for a deal on a resonator........ Theres one very similar to what you found hanging on the wall at the local guitar center, not as good condition. Not even close. And the neck definitely needs major work to play well, or at all. And I am not gonna tell ya what they want, it would make you too happy. Damnit!

Any way, the picture with the dog, Judy, as in Punch and Judy. Sorry, some things just seem funny to me and no-one else has to get it...... LOL!

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on February 9, 2011 at 2:09am

This sounds like an episode of Pawn Stars.  Awesome find Jason, and give Judy a pat for me.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Taulbee on February 9, 2011 at 8:57am

Thanks to all of you for your encouragement.  I never fail to be impressed by how supportive the CBN is :)  As far as 'Judy' goes, her name is actually Liza, and she's a well-aged 14 years old.... The reason she wants to smell everything is that she's got cataracts and is mostly blind (but she's one of the happiest dogs i've ever had-even for a Boston), so she leads everywhere by her nose now lol.  As far as your sense of humor, no need to apologize AT ALL for a warped/unique/twisted style, cause i've been accused of it too many times myself.

 

Back to the git-tar... i restrung it last night, and am AMAZED with the sound :)  Next it goes to my professional guitar tech buddy to give it the once over, and see what he can do for me to raise the action a little.  As there was no slide in the case, it appears that it's last player had it set up for strictly traditional style playing, and i think i'm gonna want to use my slide primarily.  My tech's been in the business for over 30 years himself, so i'm looking forward to letting him take a look at this beauty and see what he can tell me about it.  I can tell you that it sounds much much better than my ability to play it!!  (I'm strictly a rank amateur, and only tried fingerpicks/slide about a year ago when i built my first CBG).  I'll keep you posted.....

 

J

BTW, I posted the rest of the pictures in 'my pictures' section (next to my cheesebox pictures), if you want to check them out :)

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Permalink Reply by Darryl Leytham on February 9, 2011 at 3:18pm

jason just let me start by saying gr8 find . that said ill now start the bidding with ...... 10 times what u hav in it ...lol  seriously  dude gr8 find

 

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on February 10, 2011 at 7:20am

I still feel a little ill........

The fact that the action is a little low tells me the neck set is good. The condition looks to me like a good clean-up and polish, some minor fret polishing and you could have a very nice (and valuable) instrument.

If you have someone modify the saddle or nut to raise the action, I would suggest having someone experienced do it with consideration as to minimally affect its originality or value in a negative way. JMO

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Permalink Reply by Jason Taulbee on February 10, 2011 at 8:37am

After playing it for a few hours, i don't think i'm gonna have the action modified in any way after all.  The only difficulty in playing it with a slide was 100% due to me, not the guitar :)  It appears to be the original bone nut, and original saddle insert, so i think i'll follow the 'if it ain't broken, don't fix it' rule...  I agree with you, just a little clean and polish, a new (or set of) tuner(s), a little fret dressing and voila! I'm set.  I am shocked when i see the prices for vintage dobros, although I strongly believe that a guitar received under these circumstances shouldn't ever be sold, so i guess it's time to start learning 6 string bottleneck (Good thing i bought all 4 of the Keni Lee discs lol).

I'll keep you posted, and post some more pix later.  Thanks for all the help!!

J

Mark Bliss said:

I still feel a little ill........

The fact that the action is a little low tells me the neck set is good. The condition looks to me like a good clean-up and polish, some minor fret polishing and you could have a very nice (and valuable) instrument.

If you have someone modify the saddle or nut to raise the action, I would suggest having someone experienced do it with consideration as to minimally affect its originality or value in a negative way. JMO

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Permalink Reply by Richard G Caudill on March 19, 2011 at 4:49pm

!'m like Mark ,, I'm deeply hurt ,, may take some therapy to get me outa my depression ,,, I have one ,, but it ain't NOWHERE as good as what u got !!!!!!!       did u do ur "happy dance"?    Is it still holding up to ur playing ?

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