Anyone play a dobro?

Love the noise they make and would like to get one to hammer at. Any recommendations on a first one to learn?

[5String43]

Funny you should ask - I just happen to have the Elderly Instruments catalog right here in front of me. As always, depends on how much you wan' spend. Also depends how you wan' play. Lap-style, or regular? Makes a difference, because for one you need a square-neck, for the other you need a round-neck. Check out Elderly Instruments - Welcome - Elderly Instruments for more than enough info to confuse just about anyone. And no, no affiliation whatsoever. But I've done a lot of bidness there and have found them to be just fine.

[Gogar]

I played one one time, like all day, for a living.

If you're talking $100, then you can get a Rogue from the Musician's Friend website.

If you want to get a slightly better instrument, then maybe a Regal.

That's the cheapest and less cheap of the cheapies IMO. Cheapie dobros are actually just fine, especially for learning, because there's a lot less importance to things like frets etc. because well . . . there aren't any to worry about.

If you're looking for slide-bluegrass-jerry douglas style, make sure you get a squareneck guitar. Also important is getting the kind of slide and picks that feel good for you. I use a Shubb-Pearse SP-3 slide, National .25 finger picks, and a Zookies size L 10 degree thumb pick.

You will probably have the most 'fun' early on if you play an open E or D, instead of Bluegrass GBD GBD. If you want to play bluegrass GBD GBD, tune the bottom three strings to DGD, sometimes called "Spanish" if you're an old black man, or "Hawaiian" if you're a Hawaiian. There's a great set of strings from Elderly Instruments 16-58 for this.

Anyway, have fun!

[on2wheels52]

I've had a square neck Rogue for sale for months, not a fast moving item.
Only a couple of music people knew how to play it.
I didn't see them in the MF site, but didn't realize they sold for so little.
Jim

[KFC911]

"Play me a song Curtis Loew..."

Good stuff

[Gogar]

Sorry, looks like they're $199. Still totally worth $199 though.

Rogue Classic Spider Resonator | Musician's Friend


Here's some Regal choices:

Search - Elderly Instruments


Gold Tones are nice, prob the best you will get for under $1k. Made with a little less slave labor.

BEARD GOLD TONE PBS MAHOGANY STANDARD - Elderly Instruments

That's great - thanks for the tips. I want to try out a square neck and see if I can pick it up. With a near total lack of music in my soul, I'm not setting sites too high, I just want to give it a shot.

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Sorry, looks like they're $199. Still totally worth $199 though.

Thanks Gogar, I feel better about wanting $100 for mine (w/case)
Jim

Jim, If we were a bit closer, I'd grab yours. Going to look at a Regal later today. I may be irritating the dogs tonight...

[craigster59]

I have a Gibson DW90 Dobro I keep going back and forth on whether to sell. Slide is fun to play, just don't get around to it much.

You may want to try round neck before making your decision just to make sure you really want to play lap. If you have shoulder problems, lap is the way to go.

Here is the first song I learned on Dobro, The Stones "No Expectations", an easy one to learn..

[asphaltgambler]

I could listen to that all day long...........................very soulful blues

I picked up this virtually new Regal with a great case, slide, some picks, tuner and strap fir $250. This thing is fun.

Domino luvs her some resonator...

[Gogar]

Perfect!

[Tobra]

I was going to get my brother a steel quitar for Christmas one time, until I checked out what they cost at the friendly, neighborhood pawnbroker. Did not see any Dobro type guitars.

Got him a gas tank for his Sportster instead.

[asphaltgambler]

HEY!!.....................................How'd you get the piece and your dog to stick to the wall?

[futuresoptions]

Shows you what I know, I always thought that a Dobro was that Indian sounding instrument made famous in the late 60's. Beautiful piece Mark!

[Embraer]

here's a guy I used to know. he lived out in the desert next to me when I lived in a 13 foot RV out on a dry like bed. this guy is totally crazy, but actually had some chops when it came to guitar. apparently, he actually performed with big acts in the 80s...something happened, and he was pretty much exiled to the desert....

Blue Tick Hound Dog - YouTube

Traveling Man - YouTube