Regal Dobros

Subject: Regal Dobros
From: RangerSteve
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 02:10 PM

A friend of mine owns a couple of Hawaiian guitars that I was playing with a few days ago. I found that I could sort of play them, so now I'm hooked. I can't afford a really good one, but in looking around on the web, I found what I could afford, a Regal Dobro. The model that I can afford is fairly ugly, all finished in glossy blue, red, yellow or black. But they cost about $250.00 each. What I want to know is has anyone tried one, or heard one, and how do they sound? Thanks. Steve.

Subject: RE: Regal Dobros
From: GUEST,Martin gibson
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 02:18 PM

My brother has one for about 2 years now. It's a black one and they are Asian made. Not bad. Of course it's not a Scheerhorn like Jerry Douglas plays, but I've monkeyed with it and it's quite playable and sounds OK. Quality assurance is a bit hit or miss. He liked it so much that he bought a Regal all metal version and it fell apart after a couple of days. They made good on it and replaced it. I saw it get knocked over a few weeks back at a jam and it seemed no worse for wear.

Fender also makes a low end Asian model, probably pretty similiar except the f holes are like the Fender logo.

Go ahead. Take a chance. Bashful brother Oswald would have been proud of you.

Subject: RE: Regal Dobros
From: Songster Bob
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 02:21 PM

I have a modern Regal dobro (Regal as a make has been around since the 1920s or 30s, though the original company went under long ago) that's just fine. It may be a better model than the ones you've seen (it cost more, that's for sure), but my guess is it's essentially the same.

My dobro-playing sidekick, Pete, has a genuine Dobro, made by the Dobro company, and he used to prefer using mine when we rehearsed at my house, so it holds its own with much more expensive instruments, that's for sure.

Bob

Subject: RE: Regal Dobros
From: Grab
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 09:05 AM

Check our some reviews of the reso guitars you're talking about here

Graham.

Subject: RE: Regal Dobros
From: RangerSteve
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 08:47 PM

Thanks, everyone. I checked out the reviews that Grab recommended, and went out this morning to look for one. I went to my favorite music store, The Bucks County Folk Music Shop in Pennsylvania, and right inside the front door was the basic black Regal. I bought it, 408 dollars with case. I've been playing it all afternoon and love it. Once again, thanks for all your help. Steve.

Subject: RE: Regal Dobros
From: simon-pierre
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 03:39 PM

To compare Dobros, have a look at Folk of the wood and browse around. It's very informative.