This guitar is a commission sale - if you have a high end guitar you are interested in selling, please contact us via our easy to find website - search: Sell Us Your Guitar.
This guitar is for sale to UK BUYERS ONLY.
Here for sale we have a Dobro Duolian resonator guitar in Polished Steel finish with a Palm Tree & River Scene etched design. The resonator guitar was invented by John Dopyera in the late 1920's to help guitarists compete in volume with other instruments in the orchestra like the brass and reed sections. An immigrant to the US from Slovakia, he and his brother produced instruments for George Beauchamp who was a promoter in LA at the time. Before long they formed the National company which produced the original Tricone resonator design. After disagreements at National, the Dopyera brothers formed Dobro, producing their new single-cone 'Duolian' design. Dobro later acquired a controlling stake in National and formed the National Dobro Company. The company has changed hands several times since then, being owned by Valco and Gibson to name a few.
A single-cone resonator design is employed in a Steel body which is matched with a Mahogany neck and 19 fret Rosewood fingerboard. A brass nut is fitted, and the slotted headstock features Chrome sealed tuning machines. A 'biscuit bridge' engages the cone, amplifying the sound of the instrument through what can essentially be thought of as a loudspeaker inside the body of the instrument. In the early days, the Steel-bodied versions were cheaper to produce than the Nickel-plated Brass versions, so the instruments found their way into the hands of many Delta Blues players such as Son House & Bo Carter. The sound of the resonator has become inextricably linked with the genre, producing a sound which is evocative of those early blues players.
The Mahogany neck of this example is comfortable in the hand, with a profile which might be described as a fairly substantial 'D' shape, filling the hand nicely for a confidence-inspiring grip on chords. The flat fingerboard radius is unusual by today's standards, offering a unique playing experience which is well suited to steel and bottleneck slide techniques. The Rosewood of the fingerboard works in conjunction with the played-in gloss finish to the rear of the neck to provide a very familiar and comfortable playing experience across the register. The 14th fret neck joint affords the player easier access to the upper register than its 12 fret bind counterparts, making it practical for a wider range of techniques. A fantastic and highly playable example of a classic design, perfect for exploring early blues sounds.
This guitar is a commission sale - if you have a high end guitar you are interested in selling, please contact us via our easy to find website - search: Sell Us Your Guitar.
This guitar is for sale to UK BUYERS ONLY.
Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.
Dobro Duolian 1983 Steel Single-Cone Resonator Guitar
Brand- Dobro
Model- Duolian
Finish- Polished Steel w/Palm Tree & River Scene Etching
Year- 1983
Made In- USA
Body- Steel
Neck- Mahogany
Fingerboard- Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius- Flat
Frets- 14 Clear, 19 Total
Scale Length- 24.5"
Nut Width- 1.752"
Our ID: 116102453420
Weight: 8.7lbs
Serial: 81137 3B
Aesthetic Condition:
Headstock: Overall good condition. Light to mild chipping and indentation of the finish is apparent throughout all aspects of the headstock. This is most notable at the treble side headstock slot beside the 1st E tuner where the wood is exposed. Lighter chipping can be seen to the treble side of the top edge. Mild ageing of the finish is apparent to the front face, creating a different texture at the bass side top of the front face.
Neck: Overall very good condition. The treble side heel of the neck shows a mild indentation which has chipped the finish and reveals the wood. Lighter indentation which lightly pierces the finish in places is consistent throughout the centre rear of the neck, lightly felt under the thumb in the playing position. Any markings to the fingerboard are difficult to discern.
Body: Overall good condition. All aspects of the body demonstrate moderate to notable scratching and indentation, with mild tarnishing of the finish apparent throughout. This is most notable around the tailpiece. It is advised to view the photographs closely for a more detailed view of the instrument.Condition of Frets:
The frets demonstrate light signs of use, not affecting playability. There is considerable material remaining for any fret work the new owner may wish to perform.
Current Set Up:
Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (1/4" combination wrench required) not included.
Hardware: Fully functional with moderate signs of wear. The cone and nut have been replaced.
Structural: No concerns or issues to note.
Height of the string from the 12th Fret-2.75mm - Bass 3.25mm
Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.
Strings on Guitar - Ernie Ball Earthwood 80/20 11-52
Electrics:
N/A
Case & Accessories:
Unbranded moulded hard case included.
The case displays mild signs of age and use, remaining fully functional. Truss rod tool not included.