Dobro value?

[Mike DiAlesandro]

Greetings non-pedal guys and gals,



Thanks for the help figuring out the age of this dobro, I would like a few suggestions on value, as I have had an ad for a week in Buy and Sell, with no interest!

Do I need to change my asking price (now $875), or is that a fair price for it?

Here is a link to lots of photos:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1025291620 ... IDobro1986

Thanks for the help,
Mike

[Bosse Engzell]

I bought a Dobro back in -74 serial # 2090, so this must be correct.

Bosse in Sweden

[Jack Stepick]

Based upon the number, it would be a 1986 vintage, although it's the first time I've seen a 5 digit production number.

[Mike DiAlesandro]

Based upon the number, it would be a 1986 vintage, although it's the first time I've seen a 5 digit production number.

That is what is confusing me also.

[Jack Stepick]

I can't imagine OMI Dobro producing over 30,000 instruments in a year. Perhaps it was just an oversight or mistake by one of the workers who wasn't paying attention.

[Brad Bechtel]

If you go to Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars on Google Books and scroll up one page, there is a clarification to this listing that may be helpful.

I'd like to see additional photos of the instrument you're trying to date.

It's most likely that is a 1986 model - Dobro® serial numbers can be notoriously inaccurate.

[Mike DiAlesandro]

Brad,

Here are a couple, hope they help. Thanks for the info!

[Tom Gray]

You'll find my name as one of the sources of the Dobro info in Gruhn's Guide, and I can tell you I've never before seen five digits in the center of a 1980s OMI serial number. But there's a first time for everything, and that goes double for Dobros. What I can offer you is this group of quotations on the subject of Dobro serial numbers in general:

"Neighbor, you can't go by that." - Josh Graves

"That's one swamp I never cared to enter." - Tut Taylor

"The hell with it. Just put any number you want to on it." - Ed Dopera

[Mark Eaton]

And nobody has more knowledge about what has become known as "the convoluted history of the Dobro" than Tom Gray!

So this serial number, coupled with Tom's quotes above, appears to be a textbook example of Dobro "convolutedness."

All that aside, it's a nice looking guitar.

[Jack Stepick]

Just to clarify the 1974-1979 OMI number system, the body type, either D, B, or M is not listed at the far right, but the far left, and the last digit of the year is at the far right. (Based upon all the examples I've seen)

[Mike DiAlesandro]

And nobody has more knowledge about what has become known as "the convoluted history of the Dobro" than Tom Gray!

So this serial number, coupled with Tom's quotes above, appears to be a textbook example of Dobro "convolutedness."

All that aside, it's a nice looking guitar.

Thanks

[Gregg McKenna]

Greetings non-pedal guys and gals,



Thanks for the help figuring out the age of this dobro, I would like a few suggestions on value, as I have had an ad for a week in Buy and Sell, with no interest!

Do I need to change my asking price (now $875), or is that a fair price for it?

Here is a link to lots of photos:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1025291620 ... IDobro1986

Thanks for the help,
Mike

That's a very fair price for that Dobro.

[Mike DiAlesandro]

Thanks Gregg, looks like you might know a thing or two about resonator guitars...

[Gregg McKenna]

Thanks Gregg, looks like you might know a thing or two about resonator guitars...

I bought and sold used OMI Dobros for a time. Yours is a gem.

[Bob Wood]

Hi Mike, I just last night ran across your post on your OMI Dobro. I have a few questions, and I know it's been some time since you even posted this, But I guess my first question before I even ask anymore should be, do you still have it?

Bob

[Andy Alford]

Into days world you may get that price. It could be a little higher or lower. You might want to look around the web and check prices for a guitar like yours. The fact that it came from the brothers last musical venture should help. There are many people that many may want a modern reso. rather than your guitar. The mod.60 was my first and it was like a pot of gold back in 1976. I loved the guitar. I wish you the very best. I hope it sells with ease.

[Mike DiAlesandro]

Well, that dobro was sold many moons ago, I can't remember the exact selling price, but somewhere around $650 I think. I recently have had a need for another, and purchased a well used and cared for 1972 model. It is set up properly, sounds great, and has lots of vintage charm.