FAQs on Metal Body Bodied Resonator Resophonic Guitars Dobros

Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 23:04:09 EDT
Subject: gibson metal dobro

Hi Mickey,
I was referred to your site by Moze's Guitars in San Diego (La Mesa),
specifically by Walt there. I have recently acquired a Gibson metal dobro. From what I have read, am I right in assuming that adding a Quarterman cone means a lot of modification to the instrument body?
Also, what would you suggest for care and cleaning of it? It is the etched model, California Girl, and seems like a fairly fragile finish to me.
Lastly, what would you suggest for download sites to get a beginner started on this fabulous instrument?
Thanks, Richard Smith

Greetings Richard,

First, you'll want to determine what type of cone would best fit your metal body...It would depend somewhat on what type of tone you hope to achieve...

Be aware, most of the time, routing is required for installation. Therefore, I'd recommend that you go to a reputable luthier, who has had experience installing Quartermans, before attempting this job yourself.

If you're looking for a bluesy tone, most metal body dobroists are, you might consider the Quarterman Chicago blues cone...if you're looking for a loud full bluegrass tone, you'll want to go with the standard Quarterman...I do have a couple of metal bodies with squarenecks that serve well in a bluegrass context...

There are many variables involved with installing a Quarterman cone...and one of the most critical is seating it properly for optimal tone.

Also, what would you suggest for care and cleaning of it?

This is somewhat subjective due to the metal parts corroding easily...we use a metal polish called Simichrome...this is something we only apply if there's excess tarnish or heavy discoloration. I would not recommend using it for standard maintenance...I would suggest that you use a damp cloth followed by a dry cloth directly. Recently, a friend of mine has found good success with Blue Magic Metal Polish. Please take note: Upon making a decision on which polish to use, only try a very small space before applying it on your entire guitar. Let it sit for a day before deciding to use it throughout.

Lastly, what would you suggest for download sites to get a beginner started on this fabulous instrument?

Any good blues book/video with lots of fingerpicking will apply well to your new dobro...I'm not too sure about what sites are available...

Let me know if you have further questions...Mickey