The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm fighting the urge on getting me a dobro. How do most of you guys tune? I'm gonna rig up an old box guitar I have and see what I can do. If I sound anything like a guy named Douglass, I'm gonna buy the best one I can find!! Now wouldn't that be wonderful.

The most common dobro tuning is GBDGBD (highbass G).
However, some players prefer open D (DADF#AD) and if you're going to test it a little first on a regular guitar you should probably try lowbass G also, DGDGBD, since it's 'gentler' on the neck and top than the highbass version.
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 18 September 2003 at 11:25 AM.]</p></FONT>

From lo to hi, GBDGBD is the bluegrass tuning...pick up a $5 extension nut and some med-to-heavy gage strings and you'll be in business. Don't worry that it's a simpleton tuning, because it's not. It's all there if you've got the pull-offs, hammer-ons, slants, etc. that go with the Dobro vocabulary.

I wouldn't worry bout buying a dobro. If you sound anything like a guy named Douglas, luthier's will be giving you guitars for your indorsement.

"And when he slides that thing, across the strings, it sounds so doggone heavenly, it makes the angels sing"

cf

Really nothing much to sounding like Douglas. It's no big deal.
.....you did mean Kirk, right?

Look out Jerry, I'm aliking what's happening on my old flat top. Now if I can just get those hammer on's and slants down, I'll be a bonefide dobro player. My wife's gonna be pretty mad when I bring that new dobro home. Anyone know where I can get a C.D. by Jerry Douglas? Thanks for the tuning advice, Mr. Schubert and others.

Earl

You can get most all his CD's from his web site. If it's an instuctional CD your looking for I personally don't think his will be that beneficial. Its kinda like Brent Mason's Hot Licks. Don't get me wrong, you'll see some hot playing but it doesn't do much to help you learn anything except them boys can really pick. But you already knew that. I think there may be some cats on this forum that burn a dobro up that could make avaible a better place to start learning. Don't forget Rob Ickes, my personal favorite.

cf

Hell, we all sound "something like" Douglas.
You know, picks, strings, stuff like that.

Didn't fellow forumite Orville Johnson just release an instructional DVD?

[Edit] Yes Steinar, that's correct. read more about it here: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/004246.html

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 19 September 2003 at 06:47 AM.]</p></FONT>

Earl,

Don't resist the urge. Spend money.

Seriously, though, if you enjoy the sound of a reso, even though it would be your first reso purchase, get a decent one. You won't get near as much pleasure out of a cheap import as you would out of of midrange priced instrument. After you get done hot-rodding the cheap import (Quarterman, etc.), you'll have spent almost as much as you would have to get a good instrument.

--Alan Kirk
Crafters Tut Taylor Tennessean -- and happy.

P.S. You can get what I think are Crafters factory seconds on eBay for around $800-$1200.

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

Earl,
Once you start playing a reso, the music, and the fun you have making it is VERY addicting..
I started out on a Regal RD-45 that I did a quarterman cone kit, and a bridge and spider update to , and then graduated to a Tut Taylor Virginian...They both have their own sound and use !!...Like I said, it's addicting, and like Alan said, you'll really be more than pleased with a used Tut Taylor !!...Very sweet sounding reso for the $$$...The Regal isn't too shabby either though !!.....Jim

I agree with Alan .Alan my first name is Kirk but thats my Moms madden name.I also lived in SB,for 10 yrs ,weird my email is kirkripper@aol.com.

Go for it Earl , join us old accoustic

resonator steel players ,,Dobro is only a brand name,, Go for a real top of the line
accoustic steel. There are some really nice ones being built ,today .

R. L.

Hey fellows, there are "other" resophonic guitar players out there who I think make "sweeter" sounds than Jerry Douglas. While I always admire anybody who's mastered an instrument, they seem to never again play stuff that's simply sweet. Jerry brags about how he doesn't leave a void in the music. Personally, that makes it all too busy for me, it's all "rip snortin' "!!!
Geo

Hey Earl,, did you know the very best "dobros",, Accoustic steels are hand crafted in Texas ??? , Log on to
benoitguitars.com , check them out, These are top of tyhe line, made from exotic woods ,, I ve heard all the different brands , none have the sound ,tone or sustain ,these guitars have ., plus the natural beauty of the finest exotic woods in the world ..

Check tnem out

R. L.

I just got my old flat top converted with an extension nut, got it tuned gbdgbd, and have enjoyed plunking around on it. I got me an instructionbook with a CD, so look-out Jerry. Enjoyed your answers to my posts.

MIKE ALDRIDGE WAS AT THE ST LOUIS STEEL SHOW WITH BEARDSLEY DOBROS HE USED TO MAKE INSTRUCTION TAPES ETC AND IS A GREAT PLAYER
I READ SOMEWHERE THAT PETE KIRBY, BROTHER OSWALD, USED THE TUNING A C# E A C# E ON SOME OF HIS RECORDINGS