Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi All,

I have been asked to consider making someone a Dobro. A search for "Dobro Plan" on OLF came up empty, as did several goog searches. To save me time, does anyone know where I can purchase a decent set of plans for one? Where's the best place to get the resonator/cover/end piece etc. from? (quality over price).

Any help/ideas welcomed!

Thanks,
Dave F.

_________________
Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Try here. https://www.beardguitars.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

_________________
"It's a Tone Faerie thing"
"Da goal is to sharpen ur wit as well as ye Sgian Dubh"
"Sippin Loch Dhu @Black lake" ,Kirby O...

Thanks K.O., that's EXACTLY what I was looking for!

Cheers,
Dave F.

_________________
Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

So, now the question is "round or square neck?"

What type is this fellow playing?



Thanks for your help!

Dave F.

_________________
Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

That is a square neck if you look the neck is square. There are two types of construction modern(post and baffle) and traditional(sound well). I think that one is post and baffle the people over at Reso-nation would know for sure, there is also an article on construction by Gary Drusina.

_________________
"It's a Tone Faerie thing"
"Da goal is to sharpen ur wit as well as ye Sgian Dubh"
"Sippin Loch Dhu @Black lake" ,Kirby O...

This may provide some insight also http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/instrument/Resonator_guitar/Building,_general/i-5288.html

_________________
"It's a Tone Faerie thing"
"Da goal is to sharpen ur wit as well as ye Sgian Dubh"
"Sippin Loch Dhu @Black lake" ,Kirby O...

I get all my hardware from Beard guitars (Resophonic Outfitters) too. The only thing of theirs I haven't used are the Beard cones - I usually use Quartermans, which you can get from Janet Davis Music or Elderly Instruments.

The clip is (I think) from the Transatlantic Sessions and Jerry is playing a Beard dobro.

_________________
Pete
http://www.petewoodmanguitars.com

Thanks K.O. and Pete! Most helpful

I see that at the Janet Davis site, there's a Dobro kit for $399. It looks pretty comprehensive, but I think I'll go the scratch route and use nicer wood.....I'll ask my customer (actually, an old muso pal of mine) what kind of quality/cost tradeoff he wants.

Looks like I'll be building a square neck/post & baffle version with gold trim.

Cheers,
Dave F.

_________________
Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Hey Louisiana while you are here. I have noticed that most of the cheap Chinese Dobro have no back angle to the neck. I seems to me that a few degrees of back angle would be beneficial. Do you feel there is an optimum amount?

_________________
"It's a Tone Faerie thing"
"Da goal is to sharpen ur wit as well as ye Sgian Dubh"
"Sippin Loch Dhu @Black lake" ,Kirby O...

On a squareneck there isn't usually a back angle - there isn't any need for one as you've got a high nut and you're aiming for the action to be the same all the way along the neck (about 3/8" but may be as high as 1/2"). That gives plenty of break angle over the bridge without an angled neck.

Roundnecked resos are a different matter, and it's pretty typical of Chinese ones of all bridge types to find that the break angle is too shallow. They seem to assume that the neck angle is the same as a regular acoustic, whereas it should be greater.

_________________
Pete
http://www.petewoodmanguitars.com