Dobro purchase advice

Allen Kaatz · Post by **Allen Kaatz** » 13 Dec 2018 12:16 pm

I'm looking to buy a second-hand square neck resonator guitar, and want to spend no more than $450-700 tops. This would be mostly for occasional recording purposes. The best choices seem to be the Gold Tone Paul Beard models but I'm also seeing the old OMI dobros from the 70s and 80s for sale for about the same money as the second hand Gold Tones. I'm guessing the Beard models would be a better choice, but thought I would ask for opinions here.

One other question -- from what I've heard I lean towards a mahogany guitar over maple. With the Gold Tone Paul Beard models, the cheapest is mahogany laminate. I'm wondering how much difference I'm going to hear between the laminated body and the slightly more expensive solid mahogany?

Thanks in advance!

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 13 Dec 2018 12:29 pm

I'd avoid the 70's and 80's era dobros. Your best bet is a Beard setup Goldtone.

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 13 Dec 2018 12:47 pm

Link to used Wechter Scheerhorn at Guitar Center .

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 13 Dec 2018 1:08 pm

Full disclosure:

I worked for Beard Guitars for a decade, retired and still go on the road for Paul from time to time.

That being said there are subtle differences between the 3 models when I play them. The PBS (Laminate Mahogany) sounds less "complex" the the solid mahogany PBS-M.

FWIW..I'm not a maple fan myself but personally favor the PBS-D maple laminate in this line of guitars. A bit more aggressive, which I tend to appreciate these days.

There are also differences between the guitars set up by the Beard shop and those (95%) set up by Gold Tone. Those differences may not be important to you though.

Good luck in your search.

hp

Allen Kaatz · Post by **Allen Kaatz** » 13 Dec 2018 1:56 pm

Thanks Howard. So does the Beard set-up improve the sound significantly? If not I'd pass, also finding one second hand would probably be difficult since as you say, only 5% of them.

If maple tends to record better, or works better in a mix, I might go that way, but as of now the warmer sound of the mahogany is more attractive.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 13 Dec 2018 2:02 pm

Well, It's all subjective.

Let's just say that the Beard shop pays the same amount of attention & detail to a Gold Tone setup as it does to one of their guitars costing 8X-10X.

h

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 13 Dec 2018 3:29 pm

Bill McCloskey wrote:I'd avoid the 70's and 80's era dobros.

Why no love for the OMI era Dobros?

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 13 Dec 2018 3:37 pm

Why no love for the OMI era Dobros?

Played too many of them.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 13 Dec 2018 3:39 pm

So does the Beard set-up improve the sound significantly?

Yes.

Allen Kaatz · Post by **Allen Kaatz** » 13 Dec 2018 7:12 pm

Thanks for this Gary. The guitar in this link doesn't look like any other Wechter-Scheerhorn that I can find photos or videos of, hard to know exactly what it is. It's more of a rounded jumbo shape than most and the headstock is different as well.

gary pierce wrote:https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Wecht ... YIQAvD_BwE

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 13 Dec 2018 7:53 pm

Allen Kaatz wrote:Thanks for this Gary. The guitar in this link doesn't look like any other Wechter-Scheerhorn that I can find photos or videos of, hard to know exactly what it is. It's more of a rounded jumbo shape than most and the headstock is different as well.

gary pierce wrote:Link to Guitar Center

That picture doesn't any make sense at all, at least , from every Wechter reso that I've ever seen. And if Abe Wechter ever built a reso that looked like that, it would deserve more detail and history in its description.
And it ain't no Scheerhorn.......

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 14 Dec 2018 6:16 am

Sorry I grabbed the wrong ad, here is what I meant to get for you.
https://www.elderly.com/wechter-scheerh ... recent.htm

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 15 Dec 2018 8:55 am

gary pierce wrote:Sorry I grabbed the wrong ad, here is what I meant to get for you.
https://www.elderly.com/wechter-scheerh ... recent.htm

In my humble opinion... Anybody looking for a GREAT dobro (especially for the asking price, inc OHSC) this is one.
I have the same exact instrument.
Here is what it sounds like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80tZ5cg--M0

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 15 Dec 2018 8:59 am

I recently purchased a Beard Gold Tone squareneck and I'm very happy with it.