Resonator versus Dobro

Bill Byrd · Post by **Bill Byrd** » 11 Jul 2004 9:13 am

Are they the same thing?

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 11 Jul 2004 9:44 am

Yes.

Dobro® is a brand name just as Kleenex® is a brand name for tissues.[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 12 July 2004 at 03:13 PM.]

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 11 Jul 2004 9:48 am

Bill -- I hope I can keep this one simple ...

"Dobro®" is a brand name of resonator guitars (originally made by the DOpyera BROthers, now by Gibson), while "dobro" has become a generic name for wood-bodied, spider-bridge resonator guitars.

"Resonators" include "Dobro®s" and "dobros" as well as any other guitar with a resonator cone (or cones, as in a tricone). [This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 12 July 2004 at 03:13 PM.]

Ron Bednar · Post by **Ron Bednar** » 11 Jul 2004 9:49 am

Yep. The Dobro was the invention of John Dopyera. It is a single cone with an aluminum "spider" bridge. It actually came after the tricone, which he also invented. They are both resonator guitars. All Dobro's are resonators, but not all resonators are Dobros

The name Dobro is a trademark now owned by Gibson but the name dobro,(with a little g) has become a generic name for resonator guitars. How's that? [This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 11 July 2004 at 10:50 AM.][This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 11 July 2004 at 10:51 AM.]

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 11 Jul 2004 12:15 pm

Actually, since acquiring the "Dobro" brand name, Gibson is fighting hard to keep "dobro" from becoming a generic name for the instrument. They even wrote "cease and desist" letters to the bluegrass magazines, TELLING them not to use the name, unless the guitar in question had a "Dobro" decal on the peghead. To me, this cost them a lot of free advertising, but, at the time, NOBODY was playing Dobros. Jerry Douglas was playing Scheerhorns, Mike Auldridge was playing Guernseys, Uncle Josh had a Beard signature model----the quality of the "Dobro" guitars was, well, pitiful.
Hope I don't get sued.

Ron Bednar · Post by **Ron Bednar** » 11 Jul 2004 1:03 pm

The Gibson attitude has definately soured me on even the sound of the name and I rarely refer to a reso as a dough-bro, (safe phonetic spelling). They have the legal right and all to do what they want with their trademark. They BOUGHT IT for crying out loud...it's not like they created it! I agree that they are blowing away tons of free ad time and instead souring the very well they wish to draw water from, (to borrow a phrase from the Godfather). As far as quality goes, Gibson Dobro's aren't way up there on too many people's lists as a guitar to want for as far as I can tell. Some may differ with that observation, but those are my thoughts on it.

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 11 Jul 2004 1:23 pm

The nicest thing about Gibson and Dobro, I think, was Tom Swatzell.

Resophonic is another generic word for it.

Geo

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 12 Jul 2004 5:52 am

Gibson currently has their collective head up their butts and/or has fallen under the spell of a coven of evil lawyers (isn't that redundant?). Along with the 'Dobro/dobro' nonsense they are currently suing Paul Reed Smith for having the temerity of making an electric guitar with a single cutaway.

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 12 Jul 2004 6:14 am

The lawsuit business does seem dumb. And maybe Dobros weren't top quality for awhile. However, as far as I can tell the Gibson Dobro is the best roundneck, wood body, spider bridge resonator you can buy. I owned a roundneck Regal (the new Japanese/Korean made one) and Fender before deciding to cough up the cash for the Dobro. It's tone and volume, especially in the low range, is instantly recognizable as far superior. And the body joins at the 14th fret and has a single cutaway, which is extrememly desirable for slide guitar playing. I tune mine to open E, but with the cutaway I can easily use the slide at the A octave fret. So I have the two main blues guitar keys covered without retuning. For reasons I have never understood, none of the old traditional roundneck resonators and few of the modern ones have a cutaway. Gibson/Dobro had the insight to provide this feature in a high quality roundneck resonator. And the finish and appearance are gorgeous (mine is tiger maple red). [This message was edited by David Doggett on 12 July 2004 at 07:17 AM.]

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 12 Jul 2004 8:58 am

Along with the Gibson-made guitars National also makes a spider bridge guitar and I believe you can get a roundneck on it. Not to mention Beard, Allen, Reuter and other custom builders.

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 12 Jul 2004 9:26 am

Mike, back when I researched this about a year ago, almost all the other roundneck spider bridge resonators did not have a cutaway. National has a biscuit bridge with "bendaway" that had great singing highs, but poor lows.

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 12 Jul 2004 11:35 am

Ya know David I missed the cutaway part in your first post. I don't think Nat. will do the 'D' in a cutaway, I know Beard does though.
The cutaway Natioanal models are all biscuit coned guitars, which of course have a different overall tone from the spiders, but I get excellent bass response from my wood body biscuit cone guitars, and my vintage wood body National has tons of low end too.

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

Jennings Ward · Post by **Jennings Ward** » 30 Jul 2004 7:35 am

Gentle men.... I brag about my Bragg. A home made inst, in the hills of WVa..Has great sound and tone and sustain. I prefer to call it "MY SOUPED UP HUBCAP" Stay clear of the ct. hse. I'll let anyone compare it to "what ever". I'll bet on my Bragg..

Play steel just for the sound of It..

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

Jim Florence · Post by **Jim Florence** » 30 Jul 2004 2:34 pm

One of the little known quirks of U.S. Patent law, and probably the reason for Gibson's attempt to stop people from using the word "Dobro" is that If the name of your invention gets into "Common Usage" of the language, such as a refrigerator being called a Frigidaire, or the starter drive in an automobile starter being called a "Bendix" , you are no longer entitled to patent protection.

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 31 Jul 2004 7:26 am

To hell with Gibson. They apparently must only blow their noses with "tissues" over there. I won't buy anything from them that's been made recently. Seems they "won" with their lawsuit on solidbody single cutaway guitar shapes (re: the LP). But they LOST this purchaser of instruments. Kind of makes me hope Fender sues them for "copying" the Tele (single cutaway solidbody guitar shape), and forces them to stop making LP's. Just my .02 -- YMMV.

PS: love the term "coven" of lawyers. It's being a bit too kind though, don'tcha think?

:~)

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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, E13); Melobar SLS lapsteel (open D); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 31 Jul 2004 3:48 pm

I was never impressed with Gibson stuff, although my oldest son has a Les Paul from the sixties which seems OK.( he doesn't play it any more, but wont let loose of it)
After being introduced to bakelites, frypans, and Stringmasters, Gibsons just don't do it for me.
BILL

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 31 Jul 2004 9:09 pm

I have a DOBRO which I suspect was made by REGAL circa 1934. It is walnut veneer. I bought it back in 1942 (second-hand) and it appeared to be old even back then. The interesting thing about this guitar is the little (black) heart which is set into a white (plastic ?) background of the "crotch" where the round neck joins the body. I cannot recall ever seeing another DOBRO with a heart in that location. Anyone have any information on this particular model ?

Post by **Joey Ace** » 1 Aug 2004 3:10 am

I perfer the term RESO but use the term DOBRO because that's the only one people know.

I've had calls from Producers asking for Dobro sessions, never Reso. They don't care what brand you're playing.

Just as I don't care what brand of tissue you hand me when I ask for a Kleenex.

My name's in the credits of a made for TV movie ('The Red Road") as "Dobro - Joey Ace'. You'd think Gibson would like that publicity, even though a differnt brand was played, never on camera. [This message was edited by Joey Ace on 01 August 2004 at 07:55 PM.]

R. L. Jones · Post by **R. L. Jones** » 1 Aug 2004 5:37 pm

All guitars played with the steel or the other bars are steel guitars , Some are electric, some are accoustic , I dont call mine a "Dobro" , I call it a Benoit

R. L. Jones ,my first steel cost $5.00
in 1940