Is a national guitar a Dobro?
The National String Instrument Corporation was an American guitar company, that first formed to manufacture banjos and then the original resonator guitars. The company merged with Dobro to form the “National Dobro Company”, then becoming a brand of Valco until it closed in 1968.
Where are national resonators made?
They began producing resonator guitars under the name “National Reso-Phonic Guitars”. Since 1990, the factory has been located in San Luis Obispo, California. It produces over 1000 instruments annually, in more than 50 different models.
Why is a Dobro called a Dobro?
The name originated in 1928 when the Dopyera brothers formed the Dobro Manufacturing Company. “Dobro” is both a contraction of “Dopyera brothers” and a word meaning “goodness” in their native Slovak. This six course (6×1) guitar has a squared-off neck with raised strings for Hawaiian-style playing.
When did Gibson buy Dobro?
When Gibson bought Dobro (in 1993), they made the same Dobro they had made for thirty years.
Do dobros have frets?
At the angle the eye would see the fret would make the fret useless, so they are eliminated. On the dobro there is a different sight angle so the need for alignment is more acute, so they are needed.
Is a resonator a Dobro?
A dobro guitar is a type of resonator guitar. Resonator guitars were designed to be louder than acoustic guitars and they produce a very distinguished banjo-like sound often sought after by bluegrass, blues, folk, and country players.
Who played National guitars?
Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits were National lover’s. The National was originally intended for Hawaiian and Jazz players but it became the favoured guitar of the great Blues guitar players. Beauchamp’s patent caused a rift between the two parties and Dopyera left National.
Who is the best dobro player?
The Top 25 Dobro Players
- Mike Auldridge (1938 – 2012) A legendary player, founding member of the band The Seldom Scene, and an influence on following generations of dobro players.
- Johnny Bellar.
- Greg Booth.
- Bob Brozman.
- Curtis Burch.
- Billy Cardine.
- Cindy Cashdollar.
- Jerry Douglas.