Anybody out there have any info on quality and approximate value of a Rotary Pro ? This particular resonator guitar is around 100 years old and looks to be in good condition. I understand it was made by National but I can't find any info on it. Thanks in advance.
Doc
Rotary Pro ?
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Milton Dickson
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National reso
I't not mine .....yet. Just trying to find some info about the instrument.
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David Mason
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John Kally
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RE: Rotary Pro
Hi,
It's more likely from the 30s or early 40s. Still old, but not 100 for sure. Have you looked to see if there is actually a cone under the coverplate? That's the first thing I would check. There were a number of budget resonators out there during this era which had covers but no cone, I have owned a Maxwell and also a Slingerland Cathedranola that were like this, and another brand that I have forgotten (maybe a Rex? Chimes?); basically they give you a resonator look but without the volume. Sometimes under the coverplate they painted the area under it silver to go along with the illusion. Or someone could have put those parts on later. Looks like painted binding and of course a painted fingerboard, signs of a cheap instrument. That headstock reminds me of some of the East Coast budget brands of the era. Seems like I had a "Richter" brand small guitar with the same kind of painted fingerboard. As such, since it's not a real National or Dobro, the value would be more as a curiosity and not significantly valuable (at least that's my thinking, just speaking from some experience but there are more knowledgeable folks out there). If you got it, you would certainly be the only one on your block to have one. But that's just my opinion.
It's more likely from the 30s or early 40s. Still old, but not 100 for sure. Have you looked to see if there is actually a cone under the coverplate? That's the first thing I would check. There were a number of budget resonators out there during this era which had covers but no cone, I have owned a Maxwell and also a Slingerland Cathedranola that were like this, and another brand that I have forgotten (maybe a Rex? Chimes?); basically they give you a resonator look but without the volume. Sometimes under the coverplate they painted the area under it silver to go along with the illusion. Or someone could have put those parts on later. Looks like painted binding and of course a painted fingerboard, signs of a cheap instrument. That headstock reminds me of some of the East Coast budget brands of the era. Seems like I had a "Richter" brand small guitar with the same kind of painted fingerboard. As such, since it's not a real National or Dobro, the value would be more as a curiosity and not significantly valuable (at least that's my thinking, just speaking from some experience but there are more knowledgeable folks out there). If you got it, you would certainly be the only one on your block to have one. But that's just my opinion.
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John Kally
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RE: Rotary Pro (more info)
OK, I got to thinking and found a very similar guitar, same body, same painted binding, coverplate, tailpiece, but different fingerboard and peghead, in a video on this page:
http://bigroadblues.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12784
Look at the guitar at 1:00 as there are several in the video. He coins the term "faux-bro" which is pretty clever, and describes it just like I expected, coverplate but just silver paint where you would look for a cone. In the video he plays it bottleneck slide style, and guesses Harmony or Regal for the maker (I'd go with Regal given those two choices).
http://bigroadblues.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12784
Look at the guitar at 1:00 as there are several in the video. He coins the term "faux-bro" which is pretty clever, and describes it just like I expected, coverplate but just silver paint where you would look for a cone. In the video he plays it bottleneck slide style, and guesses Harmony or Regal for the maker (I'd go with Regal given those two choices).
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Milton Dickson
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re: rotary pro ?
First, thanks to all who took the time to reply to my inquiry. Your input was very helpful.
I got a first hand look at the guitar several days ago.
It was in much worse condition than the picture indicated. The headstock had been broke and repaired with a metal plate. The body had numerous substantial wide cracks running lengthwise from end to end. It had been painted and looked pretty bad up close. That is just what I spotted in a couple of minutes. It had no identifying marks or labels and must have been a low-end, budget, no-name guitar made in the 40's or 50's.
At best, maybe a $25 wall hanger and not the player that I was looking to buy and use.
Of course, I'm no expert and could have been completely wrong. But it didn't fit my needs.
I got a first hand look at the guitar several days ago.
It was in much worse condition than the picture indicated. The headstock had been broke and repaired with a metal plate. The body had numerous substantial wide cracks running lengthwise from end to end. It had been painted and looked pretty bad up close. That is just what I spotted in a couple of minutes. It had no identifying marks or labels and must have been a low-end, budget, no-name guitar made in the 40's or 50's.
At best, maybe a $25 wall hanger and not the player that I was looking to buy and use.
Of course, I'm no expert and could have been completely wrong. But it didn't fit my needs.