Anyone own or play a dobjo?

Subject: Anyone own or play a dobjo?
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 05:01 PM

I have noticed that the new Elderly catalog I got in the mail the other day had for the first time a dobjo they were selling.

For those of you who do not know, a dobjo is a combo resonator guitar type body with a five string banjo neck. I had the opportunity to try one a number of years ago and it was indeed interesting, but threw me off a little because it provides no where near the volume a 5 string banjo with a resonator back provides, which is what I have been used to.

I remember a number of years ago that a dobjo was used for a while in Jim & Jesse's band The Virginia Boys and I found it very cool sounding.

Does anyone here own or play one of these?

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a dobjo?
From: GUEST,Karate Kid - Kid ? - Ha! Ha! Ha"
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 10:30 AM

Dobjo... no

Dojo - yes

The Dojo sound like the same thing you are talking about - badged by Goltone and Ozark

Ozark Dojo (Best Value)

Goldtone Dojo (standard)

Goldtone Dojo (Deluxe)


The Ozark appears to be the same as the Goldtone deluxe Model but in a plain finish (not sunburst) and looks and plays great and was a lot cheaper here in the UK!!! than either of the Goldtone models.

No it's not as loud as a banjo but is louder than some acoustic guitars - the tone is very interesting and fits in well with all three genre of music I play - Trad Folk, C&W Goodtime and Rock & Roll! NB I don't play it with a slide just standard picking - but that's the way dobro's were designed - the slide came latter :-)

Shame it doesn't come as semi-acoustic but that will be sorted in the New Year............

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a dobjo?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 10:37 AM

DOBJO sounds like the Polish word for THANK YOU.

I have heard the J&J one, too; didn't they just call it a five-string dobro?

~S~

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a dobjo?
From: GUEST,soon be next year
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 10:46 AM

Dobjo - Dobro "Bros" version (c)

Dojo - current reference to non-Dobro made Res-banjos

what about a new name Banbro... high five :-)

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a dobjo?
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 11:17 AM

I first heard it called "dobjo"

Resophonic guitars are more often called dobros regardless of who made them. Sort of like a tissue is a Kleenix, a cola is a Coke, and a plastic bandage strip is a Band-Aid.

I guess it's the ultimate in brand recognition when anyone's product is identified with one brand name.

How about a banjophonic?

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a dobjo?
From: GUEST,Larry
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 02:09 PM

I purchaed a dobjo a few weeks back. Dobjo is the name given to the instrument if it was made by Dobro. Dojo is the current name for the Gold Tone instruments. It is indeed not as loud as my banjo but has an interesting tone. I tend to use the Dobjo for slower songs, hymns, etc. It does take some getting used to because the neck is wider and flatter than my banjo, and the strings are much closer to the platter than they are to the head of my banjo. But it has a very interesting sound. Dobro stopped making them when the trademarked name was purchased by Gibson. Mine is 20 years old, and I think they stopped making them somewhere between 1989 and 1993.

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a dobjo?
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 04:40 PM

Thanks for the information on the Dobjo made by Dobro. I just purchased one a few weeks ago and have been trying to find information about the instrument but I had no luck because I kept looking under
Dojo and everything came up made by Goldtone. It does have a unique sound quite different from a 5 string banjo. I tend to use melodic or the clawhammer style of playing with the Dobjo.
Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Anyone own or play a dobjo?
From: GUEST,PT
Date: 27 Feb 10 - 01:11 PM

I bought a Dobjo from a fellow in the UK on ebay a few years ago.It was love at first site and felt it had to be brought back to the States.I paid entirely too much for it,but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Being a Frailing kind of a guy and at the time found learning three finger style hurt my ears,the Dobjo was just right for those ballads and waltz's I wasn't Frailing.It's really great for those late nights when you can't sleep and you don't want to wake the rest of the Family.Mine has the stars and quarter moon cutouts and made from Maple.Ive only seen one other like it.The other I've seen were the fan style cutouts seen more on Dobros.I also use an old Barcus Berry pickup on the treble side of the body.Just gotta love it--Enjoy yours,I do mine!