Dobro Tenor Guitar

Subject: Dobro Tenor Guitar
From: mooman
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 10:48 AM

I have recently seen a Dobro tenor guitar advertised by a reputable store at what seems like a reasonable price.

As both a guitar and mandolin/tenor banjo player, the idea of a Dobro tenor guitar rather appeals to me. It is a wooden body + resonator model and seems to be late 40s vintage in reasonable condition.

Anyone any experience of these or advice to share before I commit to making a long journey to try it out?

Many thanks,

moo

Subject: RE: Dobro Tenor Guitar
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 12:35 PM

Just curious as to what appeals to you about this.

Outside of the Kingston Trio's Nick Reynolds, who capo'd his Martin tenor way up the neck and made it sound like a big steel string uke playing rhythmn with a ferver, what advantage does any tenor guitar have over a 6 string?

I have seen dobro ukes in the Elderly catalog.

Subject: RE: Dobro Tenor Guitar
From: Mooh
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 09:20 PM

Got a buddy with a custom one-off walnut resonator tenor guitar. He plays it, tuned in fifths, for "celtic" music in a band setting and fiddle tunes on his own. It is a fantastic addition to his collection of celtoid instruments. The sound cuts through the mix of acoustic instruments very well, yet it has great dynamics and responds well to the touch. I want one badly but lack the cash, or at least the co-operation of the household.

I love the way notes just jump out of the thing.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Dobro Tenor Guitar
From: DonMeixner
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 11:12 PM

They can be tuned to play like a Bouzuki, booze Ukey, Bazzooka, big as Uke. Also for peole with hand limitations they are still a guitar.

Don

Subject: RE: Dobro Tenor Guitar
From: Bobert
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 11:20 PM

Buy the danged thing! If you don't, I will. I've been playin tenor guitars for a long time and they are real fun instruments except they ain't got no "umph" to speal of.... Like I said, buy it.

Bobert

Subject: RE: Dobro Tenor Guitar
From: reggie miles
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 03:22 AM

I had an old metal bodied National tenor tri-cone. It played and sounded wonderfully. I should have never got rid of the thing, but I needed the cashola so away it went.

I've been toying with some ideas about how to create a similar beast.

Subject: RE: Dobro Tenor Guitar
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 02:19 PM

I had a go on what apparently is a "1930 National Style 1 resonator guitar" fairly recently and loved it. From what I heard of you when I met you in Yorkshire, I think you would enjoy adding a resonator tenor guitar to your collection of weapons.

Dan, the owner of the instrument I tried, is over in the US for Zoukfest 2003 so I can't try to persuade him to post his experience with this type of instrument at the moment.

As a side track, last time he was in the Norwich session, he let me have a go on his "Stephen Owsley Smith 10 string Bazouki". I don't know if you've ever come accross this American maker. It was a new name to me and the instrument is fantastic.