Metal Dobro

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 10 Dec 1999 3:53 am

You've probably seen in Musicians Friend catalogue a mongrel brand of dobro for sale for about $6-700.
It is nickel or chrome plated brass with a resonator middle.
Now this is ridiculously cheap, but my question is, how bad can it be?
I mean if it is brass, it's not going to fall apart like some cheap wood might. How good does a dobro have to be anyway?
Tony (looking to buy a dobro) Palmer

Website · Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 10 Dec 1999 10:55 am

If you're talking about the Johnson Style O guitar, it's not a bad guitar. They're made in China, unlike the Johnson tricones, which are made in the Czech Republic. The Style O guitars I've heard have a pretty good sound, although I think the nut and bridge could stand an upgrade.

------------------
Brad's Page of Steel:
www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 10 Dec 1999 6:59 pm

Tony,
I just bought a Johnson JR-400-C Reso.(copy of D60S Dobro) I love it.
It is far ahead of Flinthill, Galveston, Regal, and most of the cheaper reso.
I just sold a 83'Dobro, and I like the Johnson as well or better than I did the Dobro.
It looks a hundred times better than the Dobro, as far as finish etc., and the tone is great. I will agree with Brad, I'll probably update the bridge amd nut. It may fall apart next week, but I don't believe it will, it is pretty heavy as compared to Flinthill etc.
Anybody else tried one??
p><center>

</center>

<center>

</center>

<center>

Happy Holidays,
Bob<p ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b">[This message was edited by Bob Knight on 12-10-99]</FONT></P>

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 11 Dec 1999 8:14 am

Tony, Brad's spot on about the Johnson/Sterling guitars, although the fact that they paint the neck makes me leery and I think a bone nut is in order. I'd also recommend swapping out the cone for a National. The offshore cones are stamped and are pretty thick compared to the spun National cones. It's like going from a stock Dobro cone to a Quarterman.

Also watch eBay, these things are going for about $500.00 bucks and they are new from reputable dealers.

mickd · Post by **mickd** » 12 Dec 1999 10:51 am

I bought a new Johnson dobro copy a few weeks ago in Hobgoblins, London. It was really
cheap - 175 UK Pounds (about 280$). The
finish is poor & it needed a bit of setting
up but the sound from the spider is great.
I also bought a Continental Tri-Cone while
I was in Vienna a few months ago. I understand that the guitar is made in Munich but the cones come from Czech Republic - maybe the same source used by Johnson for their steel models ? Again, I'm very pleased
with it.

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 13 Dec 1999 6:21 am

Hey Tony,
I've had the Johnson Tricone, the Style-O and the Jr-400 wood body. The Tricone was OK but had a crack along the weld seam. The ground off a bit too much metal. Moved to the Style-o and it was fine. BUTT. The sound I was looking for was the honey-sweet bluegrass/blues tone. The Brass bodies have more resonance in the mid and mid-hi ranges. The woodies have a beefier bottom and smoother Mid-hi and Hi's. I now have the 400 woody and LOVE the sound. I'm also impressed with the quality. Very solid construction, sweet tone and excellent finish.
Hope this helps...
-andy-