FAQs About Dobro Accessories

Subject: "Old style parallelogram?"
Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 17:43:17 +0000

Hello--

I'm searching for a resophonic guitar slide style, square neck. I'd like to know what the term "old style parallelogram" means when referring to the make-up of the Tenneesean and the other guitars you sell. How does this resonator compare in sound to the newer types of resonators?
Perhaps you havae a brochure on this.

Thanks,
Van Potterton

Greetings Van,

This is referencing the soundwell which is a circular wood frame that surrounds the resophonic cone system...

Old Style Parallelogram: This is referencing the angle that the soundwell is positioned.

On a standard soundwell for dobros, you'll find them standing straight up connecting the back of the instrument and enclosing the vibrations emanating from the resophonic cone. The standard soundwell also soundholes drilled through them...

The Parallelogram has two angles of equal proportion that lean outwards...almost giving it a concave look as you look fromt the top...this allows the sound to resonate much clearer and brighter sound...if you consider that there's less area for the sound to travel within, this most definitely affect the sound...and as is true with smaller guitars or archtop banjos, a clearer brightness would be achieved.

Normally you would see a round circle for a standard soundwell when looking at it from the top...in the case of the Parallelogram, you'll have a more concave look with the bottom of the soundwell being located closer to the resophonic cone system...while the top of the soundwell is further from the resophonic cone system.

Sorry, we do not have a brochure explaining this...however, if you do have further questions, feel free to e-mail us again...Mickey

Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 19:23:36 -0700
Subject: Re: RD 75 Squareneck

Hi Mickey, I'm currantly playing a 1980 Dobro squareneck that belongs to a
friend of mine. I love it. I've got to return it soon, though. I really like
the looks of the Dobro, hence my interest in the RD 75. It looks like a
traditional Dobro, more so than the RD 45. I read on the FOTW site that the
string spacing is narrower than the RD 45. What is the difference? What is
the string spacing on the two? Is the spacing similar to the Dobro? Thanks,
Brian

Greetings Brian,

The older Dobros, the OMI line-up in 1980, had narrower string spacing similar to the RD-75...

Most all newer squarenecks are now offering wider string spacing.

Yes, the RD-75 is more traditional in shape and in playability...

The RD-45 does have the wider string spacing...some players do like the string spacing to be narrow, and others, such as myself, prefer a wider string spacing.

Hope this helps...Mickey

Subject: Dobro question: Sound well -vs- (sound posts, baffle, tone bar) systems?
Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 09:37:16 -0500

Hi folk!

I am considering a new squareneck. I have seen and understand the "Sound
well" system. Can you explain the Soundpost-baffle-tonebar system? Are there
any photos I could look at on the net? Sometimes you see listed: "four sound
posts instead of sound well." Where is the "baffle?" What is a "Tone bar?"

See you on the strings! Eric Ebner

Greetings Eric,

The soundpost transcribes vibration from the top to the back...adding movement to the entire instrument. Scheerhorn uses the soundpost set-up on their dobros...

I'm not sure about the baffle system...I'll have to do some further research myself.

The tonebar system is where bracing helps distribute the vibration across a wider plane of the vibrating wood...for instance, a violin will have a bass bar that is essentially one brace that extends from the back of the bridge all the way up towards the fingerboard...on the bass side of the violin.

I'm not sure if there are any photos of these configurations on the net.

Hope I've helped in some way...I will confer on this topic with one of my expert luthiers. Mickey

Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 19:46:37 -0600
Subject: Dobro (choice of woods)

Hi Mickey,

Greetings Chuck,

The playin' is going great thanks to your video and a couple of other tapes and cd's I got. Getting those banjo rolls to work is the trick. How's the video editing going? I got Vegas Video for PC to check out.

I've heard and read nothing but great reviews on the Vegas program...VideoMaker gave it the highest accolades.

I've finalized "Intro to the Dobro" for its final cut...and, will be sending it out for duplication directly.

Well. let's plan a get together here sometime either in Santa Fe or Ruidoso eh? I noticed the fellow who bought the birch decided to swap for the mahoghany Beard.

Very observant of you! You're right, even though he loved the sound of the vintage birch, he wanted the grain on the R Mahogany...it wasn't a matter of wanting a different tone...

Those Mahoghany reso guitars are getting a pretty good rep! Are they really that much better in tone or is it that they are solid wood and people want solid over thelaminate wood? What's the story? I know the bulliten board on the Jerry Douglas site talks up the Mahoghany over the laminates but Greg McKenna's site says a good laminate can outperform a solid wood since it damps and decouples the vibrations more. What's your thoughts Mickey?

You have some valid questions here...
I've heard that the laminates are more durable and can withstand weather changes more so than solid woods. My personal opinion is that each Beard sounds very similar no matter how it's constructed. I'm leaning towards a laminate Beard now...in fact, Paul and I have been discussing a Custom Art Dobro for my personal use...Paul's really high-end custom Dobros are mostly made of laminates...so, I suspect that says something in itself. I believe that the solid Mahogany is a real beaut...with the wood trim and nice grain; as far as sounding better than his laminate Dobros...that would be a matter of personal taste. To me, it only sounds subtly different...for instance, your Cherry model has a darker tone to my ears...however, they mostly have a similar tonal range due to where the heart of the sound resides: in the resophonic assembly and what material is used on the nuts and bridges...Paul seems to have just the right combination of hardware that creates a full resonant sounding Dobro...

Jerry Douglas endorses and plays a Mahogany...I suspect that's the reason that Mahogany is held in such high esteem on the Jerry Douglas site. Who can argue the phenomenal sound that Jerry has achieved through playing Mahogany Dobros? He's the man! As you know, he's the reason I pursue Dobro today. His "Under the Wire" recording has set the precedence in what I aspire to achieve (maybe within one lifetime) with a Dobro. In light of this, Mahogany is not necessarily my first choice...I believe I'm going to end up with a laminate maple custom-built by Paul himself.

Hope this sheds a different perspective...Mickey

Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 18:54:28 EDT

Thanks Mickey,
     Appreciate the woods info. Another question; in your opinion, will the Gibson Dobros at my local retailer sound the same as their model counterpart in your shop? In other words, how consistent is sound design and quality in the Gibson line?
     Thanks again,
                                   B. Hagemier Salinas, CA

Greetings Bob,

When it comes to consistency in tone, within the same model/make, you'll find Dobros come closer than guitars, mandolins and other all wood instruments. The reason is that the Dobro is constructed with a resophonic cone system which is the central core of the origin of its sound. Therefore, machined parts, such as spider bridges and spun cones, are far more consistent than the unique fingerprints of wood...which will vary from instrument to instrument within the same model/make. In conclusion, yes, the Gibson Dobros will have a solid consistency in tone from instrument to instrument.

Hope this helps, Mickey

Subject: Squareneck Accessories
Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 20:33:01 -0500

Hello. I found your website while studying up on reso guitars and find myself coming back again and again. Very informative and not loaded down with a bunch of sales hype. Thank you! How refreshing. I've learned a ton from you and your straighforward, honest approach!

Well, I think I'm ready to make a purchase. I don't currently play the reso or any other instrument, so I'm green in all respects. You've provided a pretty convincing argument for the Regal RD-45, and I think that's the way I'll go, but first I need to let you know about my trade-in.

I've attached a bunch of pictures. Tried to keep them small so your email doesn't get filled up or bogged down. I have more and can take more if there's something you'd like a better look at. Just let me know. Here's some additional info on this instrument:

I think that covers it. Thanks very much for your time!

Kevin Williams

Greetings Kevin,

Appreciate the kind words regarding our website.

We have a large shipment of RD-45s due in the near future. You may call us at our 888-209-8434 number for a complete stock list due.

As far as accessories go: the Stevens Style Steel is most definitely the way to start...these go for 15.00...The "Anyone Can Play Dobro" video would be the optimal way to start (or, our very own Video "Intro to the Dobro" which is more of a methodology approach to learning). A video would be the next best thing to an instructor. Sheet music books can follow upon your gaining comfort through the video. Additionally, you'll want metal Dunlop fingerpicks and a Dunlop plastic thumbpick...1 extra set of Beard Dobro strings (my personal favorite)...and eventually, you'll want a Beard Dobro capo to increase facility for playing in other keys.

Sorry, we currently do not have any used squareneck Dobros in stock...they very seldom come in...

Let me know how I might assist further...Mickey

Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 10:59:34 -0600

john christman says:

I have a dobro made from an old electric guitar, and need a capo. A standard dobro capo won't work because the bottom of the neck is round, rather that flat. I saw one that was metal and "clamped" on the strings, made by Liberty Bringe (who ever they are), that would work. I just can't find one. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks, JC

Hello JC,

I know which capo you're referring...I haven't seen them available in many years. We do have a capo that does fit roundnecks converted to lapstyle dobros: It's an elastic type dobro capo...we sell them for 15.00 + 3.00 shipping. Let me know if you have any further questions or if I can assist you with anything else...Mickey