Is it possible?

Lindley · Post by **Lindley** » 9 Jul 2003 1:48 pm

Do you think it's possible to love the dobro as much as you do your steel? To me, the sound of a well played steel is like music from Heaven. Really, there is nothing in this world as beautiful as when Buddy plays something like, Danny Boy", or "Greensleeves". I am a 57 year old man, and I still get tears in my eyes when I hear this. From time to time, Even I play something that makes me smile. However, now that I am trying to learn the dobro, I find that I am appreciating it more and more. I seem to be hearing something I didn't hear before from the dobro. What do you guys think?

------------------
Steel crazy after all these years.
Emmons Lashley Legrande 111 S-10, Nashville 1000, Peavey Stereo chorus 212, Peavey Classic 50/410, Lexicon MPX 100, Crafters of Tennessee Virginian reso.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 9 Jul 2003 3:25 pm

I think it was John Fogerty who said:
"The dobro is the sound of the woman you didn't get".

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 9 Jul 2003 5:45 pm

Dobro was my second instrument. I started trying to play back in the early 70's, after I'd gotten a little tired of guitar. I was no guitar virtuoso, but I wanted to do something else. Actually started with a slide(piece of 3/4" EMT conduit), and got acoustified later.
But there's something about that moan, or that squeal, that still drives me nuts. I knew who Uncle Josh was long before Buddy Emmons. And Mike Auldridge was kickin' my butt long before any steel guitar came along.
It's an incredible instrument.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 10 Jul 2003 6:31 am

I've always liked the sound of a dobro, but it wasn't until I owned one that I fell in love with that sound. Something about the way that energy rises up from the cone and surrounds you. It's magical. I don't think it's possible to truly appreciate the instrument until you commit yourself to learning how to play it. But that may be true for any instrument.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 10 Jul 2003 7:59 am

There's nothing like a well-played slide anything- just the sound of steel on strings always gets me going. But Resos do have that swampy, mysterious, cry and moan thing. And in the hands of a great player- check out Jerry Douglas' gorgeous "Write it on the Tablet of Your Heart" on his Under the Wire CD. Or just about anything Auldrige recorded! I just got a great deal on a beautiful used Beard, and I can't put it down. Yum!

------------------
C'mon by and visit!- www.markvanallen.com
My Bands: Sugarland Kate and the Retreads Kecia Garland Band Shane Bridges Band Dell Conner Blues Band

[This message was edited by Mark van Allen on 10 July 2003 at 09:00 AM.][This message was edited by Mark van Allen on 10 July 2003 at 09:00 AM.][This message was edited by Mark van Allen on 10 July 2003 at 09:04 AM.]

Alan Kirk · Post by **Alan Kirk** » 11 Jul 2003 8:56 am

Certain instruments "speak" to certain people, I believe.

I also believe that if a child shows an intense interest in any particular instrument, it's probably the instrument that child should learn to play.

Some people just really get off on certain timbres.

------------------

Wayne Carver · Post by **Wayne Carver** » 11 Jul 2003 10:38 am

Like Mark said , slide anything, I recently listened to an old blues player, Fred Mcdowell, who really sparked my interest although I don't know exactly what type of reso he was using. Probably the bottleneck style. I also enjoy the Dobro more since I started playing one. I noticed that when you get something like a canoe, you notice every canoe on the top of every car.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 11 Jul 2003 10:46 am

Josh Graves!

Bruce Clarke · Post by **Bruce Clarke** » 12 Jul 2003 11:06 am

Alan--I don't think there can be any "probably" about it! I wonder too just what is it about a certain sound (in our case the steel guitar)that calls to an individual. I have given some thought to this over the years and never come up with anything like an anwer.
There may be a genetic component, my father was affected by stringed instruments, as I am, and I know there was a fiddle player in the family a few generations back.