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Author
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Topic: Gibson Discontinues Most Dobro Models
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Howard Parker
Member From: Clarksburg,MD USA
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posted 29 April 2006 06:35 AM
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The venerable 60D and 27 Deluxe are gone.The Leadbetter and Graves square neck models stay as does the HoundDog in roundneck. HowardP ------------------
Howard Parker
poobah@resoguit.com
www.resoguit.com
ListOwner RESOGUIT-L
03' Carter D-10 [This message was edited by Howard Parker on 29 April 2006 at 06:36 AM.]
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 29 April 2006 08:09 AM
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Well, they really ran that name & line into the ground. |
Don Fox
Member From: Idaho, USA
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posted 29 April 2006 08:17 AM
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Yeah, but they'll still sue you if you try to use it! |
Chris Walke
Member From: St Charles, IL
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posted 29 April 2006 08:41 AM
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I love my F-60S. Nicest guitar I own. I buddy of mine has it's bratty brother, the DWF-60. Also a cool guitar, especially in his hands. That Leadbetter model looks beautiful. Hmm... |
Larry Robbins
Member From: Fort Edward, New York, USA
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posted 29 April 2006 12:47 PM
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I have played a couple of Leadbetters' and I thought they were nice dobros. Haven't had a chance to try the Graves yet. A lot of the Gibson dobros I have played in the last few years were not up to par IMHO and were not anywhere near worth the selling price for the most part.I am not surprised at the move to discontinue a lot of the models, its just too bad though what they did to a once proud name that used to be synomimus with quality. With a little luck, maybe Gibson will sell the name down the road to someone who will build a inst. worthy of the name "DOBRO".....
sue me Gibson!!...I wonder if thier mandolins will be next? ------------------
73 PROII,8&4, Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!
[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 29 April 2006 at 12:48 PM.] [This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 29 April 2006 at 12:49 PM.]
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Alan Kirk
Member From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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posted 29 April 2006 01:35 PM
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I spoke with a guy today who has been a Gibson dealer for almost 60 years. Apparently some Harvard MBA pinhead is running the company now, and they are dropping their smaller dealers in favor of GC and the like. The guy I talked to is unloading all his Gibson stock and moving on. Looks like Gibson is going post-CBS. :)------------------
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Lincoln Goertzen
Member From: Rose Prairie, British Columbia, Canada
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posted 29 April 2006 02:58 PM
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The thought just crossed my mind that if Gibson were to discontinue their mandolins, the world wouldn't miss much. Don't get me wrong, I work in a music store that deals with Gibson, and we have sold a number of them, but IMHO, just not the greatest bang for your buck. You can get a great mando for less money from a custom builder!Lincoln |
Jon Zimmerman
Member From: California, USA
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posted 29 April 2006 03:49 PM
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They cast adrift Al Perkins' signature model--I can just hear these MBAnalyst/bean-counter discussions: "who's this Chet Atkins? Isn't he dead now?" |
Don Barnhardt
Member From: North Carolina, USA
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posted 29 April 2006 04:23 PM
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I think Dobro's days as a contender are over. I bought a new one (made by Gibson) about 10 years ago because of ignorance. I wanted to play bluegrass and everyone else was playing banjo and I'm not all that good anywayso... since I played steel years ago I purchased a new Dobro for the name alone because I knew diddly about resos. I've played cheap imports that sound as good. After changing the cone, nut and bridge inserts I finally wised up and got a custom made from Bobby Wolfe and now I have a real instrument. These Beard Gold Tones seem to be excellent instruments and about half the price of low end Gibson Dobros . There are a number of custom builders that are very competative with Gibson's high end instrument price wise and most of them sound better. So for those of you who care continue to collect vintage Dobro's but the new customs is where it's at. |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 29 April 2006 05:26 PM
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Glad mine's an OMI ... ------------------
Hawaiian Steel Stuff
The Casteels
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Ed Altrichter
Member From: Schroeder, Minnesota, USA
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posted 29 April 2006 09:28 PM
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Mine's an OMI too. Are we sitting on a goldmine now ??? |
Ed Altrichter
Member From: Schroeder, Minnesota, USA
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posted 29 April 2006 09:31 PM
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kiddin' . |
Alvin Blaine
Member From: Sandy Valley, Nevada, USA
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posted 30 April 2006 03:57 AM
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So Gibson was making about 15 different model Dobros®, and now they are only making 3 models?
That's a mighty big cut in production, but Henry(Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz)has bought out bigger instrument companies and shut them down completely.
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Lee Gillespie
Member From: Colorado, USA
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posted 30 April 2006 04:46 AM
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It definately is a crying shame, that a company that has produced the highest quality instruments for so many years is pulled to the its present level by a greedy CEO and mismanagement. Lets hope they boot those upper turkeys out, and let the company return to its roots, of making top quality musical instruments. Thats what Harley Davidson did, and look at the company today. Lee |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 30 April 2006 05:57 AM
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Who needs Gibson to produce dobros? Look at all the fantastic custom builders, the high end imports (Beard-Wechter), and all of the lower end imports.The entire range of price & quality is covered. You pretty much get what you pay for. Quite honestly, if OMI were still in business today, and made the same guitars that they had in the past, don't you think that they wouldn't be edged out of the market? I think today's "dobros" are much better than what they made years ago. |
Larry Robbins
Member From: Fort Edward, New York, USA
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posted 30 April 2006 06:23 AM
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Is anyone really surprised that they are discontinueing a lot of models? with the price VS quality issue they have had for the last several years I am not.As steel players OUR inst. are not inexpensive but,in general these days they are all pretty good quality. If I am gonna pay 2 grand for a Dobro it had better be much better quality than the pacific rim imports....from what I have seen latley many ( Gibsons) are not. I wonder if the few models that are still well made will be enough to carry them? Have you checked out the prices on Gibson mandolins latley?
$22,000 for a "distressed" Master model
F5?....I dont know what these guys are smokeing but they should take just one hit and put the joint out next time!  ------------------
73 PROII,8&4, Steelking, Hilton pedal, USA Tele, Fender Twin,Peterson tuner,Tut Taylor Reso's and Twang to the Bone!!
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Howard Parker
Member From: Clarksburg,MD USA
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posted 30 April 2006 07:29 AM
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To be fair about the quality issue, it's been suspect since the late 1920's. One of the frustrating things about Dobro(tm) back in those years was the variation in craftsmanship and sound between consecutive S/N's.Every OMI guitar I ever saw shipped with a plastic nut, non-descript inserts and some of the worst tuning machines available. Even so...I'm one that believes that the market is better off with a healthy competitor. I'm saddened to see some of those models go. For sake of full disclosure:
I work for Beard Guitars YMMV HowardP |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 30 April 2006 09:06 AM
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There is no shortage of competitors.I didn't even feel that Gibson was much of a contender anyhow. I haven't heard of many people who have purchased from them. Certainly, if a newbie inqired on any forum, they were steered away from Gibson. IMO, Gibson's stratagy was to use the Dobro name, along with famous player's names to push their product instead of really researching the market and trying to improve upon the original design & quality. This is a case where independent builders had a huge effect on the sale of Gibson's Dobro. Gibson dropped the ball. I commend Paul Beard for developing and filling the need in the area of a great quality guitar at an affordable price. This is what Gibson should have done if they took the market seriously, or had more astute people in the r&d department. For the sake of full disclosure, I do not work for Paul Beard, and Howard Parker owes me three sets of strings....  |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 30 April 2006 09:26 AM
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quote:
Quite honestly, if OMI were still in business today, and made the same guitars that they had in the past, don't you think that they wouldn't be edged out of the market?
I was just jokin' about the OMI ... because it "sports" a "Non-Gibson" Dobro name on the headstock ... But in all fairness ... I ain't no "Dobro guy" ... so my opinion means very little here ... But I took my OMI Dobro to Paul Beard's old shop a few years ago for his "upgrade" ... When it was finished and he brought it out ... he was quite pleased with the sound ... even though the C6/A7 setup I furnished him (specific gauges/flatwounds) ... were quite "alien" to him. Shoulda tried it while you was here ... ------------------
Hawaiian Steel Stuff
The Casteels
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Mike D
Member From: Phx, Az
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posted 30 April 2006 09:48 AM
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I cudda ben sumbuddy, I cudda ben a contendah!Patiently waiting for Gibson to call up with a buy-out offer. Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.....  ------------------
Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.
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Jim Cohen
Member From: Philadelphia, PA
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posted 30 April 2006 10:11 AM
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For the sake of full disclosure, I'd like to say that I'm just reading this thread, and I don't know squat about the subject. |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 30 April 2006 10:22 AM
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I have two OMI dobros. I've had them for over 30 years. I also have a mid 90's Gibson Dobro that I bought on ebay. While they're good, they are no match for what is being built today, not including the low end imports.Perhaps if the Gibson Dobros were in the $1200.00 - $1500.00 range, they might have had a place in today's market. BTW, in 1973, I bought my first Dobro (OMI).....$175.00 (and I had to borrow $100.00 from a buddy)......and yes, I paid him back....  [This message was edited by HowardR on 30 April 2006 at 10:25 AM.] |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 30 April 2006 10:51 AM
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I own a 1993 Dobro® Hound Dog, round neck with nut extender. For what it is and what I paid for it, it's a good guitar. I remember the recently discontinued Hound Dogs selling for around $800 a few years back; the most recent list price I see is $1,200!!! I agree that Gibson has priced themselves out of the market - the quality of their instruments does not reflect the prices asked for them.------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
Todd Clinesmith
Member From: Redcrest, California, USA
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posted 30 April 2006 11:52 AM
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I heard the Dobro line will be moving to China or Vietnam....can't remember which.
Too bad one of the "american inventions"..... the Dobro or Resonator/Resophonic/ Ampliphonic ect ect guitar, going to slave labor and low quality....for now atleast.
Rick A ...I would be more proud to own a OMI instrument . It *issed me off when Gibson took the Dobro logo and put the Gibson name on it. With all Gibson has done in the past 5 years or so I think they will get everything they deserve in the long run.
Hopefully before Gibson completely ruins the Dobro name they will sell it . I would like to see something good done with it and save it from being known as an inferior guitar.... they could be on top right now if quality was an issue.
Todd
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Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 30 April 2006 03:41 PM
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quote:
I have two OMI dobros.
Why doesn't that surprise me ... quote:
BTW, in 1973, I bought my first Dobro (OMI).....$175.00
Yeah ... but did yours come with this niffty hat ... 
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Hawaiian Steel Stuff
The Casteels
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Alvin Blaine
Member From: Sandy Valley, Nevada, USA
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posted 01 May 2006 12:10 AM
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In the interview in the link I posted above with Gibson's CEO Henry. He talks about how when he took over he double the price on some instruments and they stated selling more.
Quote from story;
I said we are going to increase prices. Prices were ridiculously low. And people said, the price has been decreasing 20% a year, how can you reverse that? I said I'm just going to double the prices on a lot of models. I actually tested it and got an inverse price curve. Basically it showed that every time I raised prices a certain amount, volume would go up. So that's part of Gibson marketing now, that if an instrument isn't selling well, then just raise the price of it. If that doesn't work then just shut down production on that line of instruments. |
Alvin Blaine
Member From: Sandy Valley, Nevada, USA
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posted 01 May 2006 12:25 AM
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quote:
There is no shortage of competitors.
quote:
This is a case where independent builders had a huge effect on the sale of Gibson's Dobro. Gibson dropped the ball.
Seems like everyone and their brother are making dobros now a days.
Even my cousin is making dobros now. Of course he can't call them "Dobros®", but he's making instruments better than Gibson.
I believe the reason there are so many independent builders out there now is because Gibson dropped the ball and left a market looking for other options.[This message was edited by Alvin Blaine on 01 May 2006 at 12:27 AM.] |
Bill Hatcher
Member From: Atlanta Ga. USA
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posted 01 May 2006 05:36 AM
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All I can say about Gibson right now is that they are on my list as the worst customer no-service musical instrument company. They put me on ignore for so long, I had to fix the problem with my Gibson guitar myself so I could play it. (Thin arched body electric that the top had come unglued from the center section!!! About a $4500 list price guitar!) When I emailed the head of customer service to relay the details of the crappy service I got, he sent me back a nasty self serving note. |
Drew Howard
Member From: Mason, MI, U.S.A.
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posted 01 May 2006 06:11 AM
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A couple weeks ago I noticed on the Gibson website that they were down a bunch of models.Drew ------------------
Drew Howard - website - Fessenden guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc.
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 01 May 2006 06:23 AM
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quote:
Seems like everyone and their brother are making dobros now a days.
Especially the Dopyera brothers They put the bro in the Do
quote:
Even my cousin is making dobros now.
Cobro?
I think I'll start making resophonic guitars and open a Gentlemen's Club at the same time. We'll call my guitar The Ho'bro 
[This message was edited by HowardR on 01 May 2006 at 06:25 AM.]
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Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 01 May 2006 08:53 AM
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Speaking of how horrible that company is now, has anyone checked out their $5000+ F5 mandolins? They are total crap. Can I say "crap" here? The binding work is complete slop with bad paint and filler to "fix" the bad work. The tops are too thick and they sound horrible. The nut, frets, and general setup are atrocious. The $300 imported Kentuckys sound worlds better. Gibson has become a total sham of a company. Their new instruments are below average at best. Shame, shame, shame...Brad |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 01 May 2006 09:07 AM
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Well, it appears that Gibson doesn't give a ......Hoot |
Stephen Wells
Member From: Jackson, Mississippi
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posted 01 May 2006 09:43 AM
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Isn't it interesting that the company that is so touchy about the use of dobro as a generic term, and sued to stop PRS from making a single cutaway guitar, is currently offering a dead knock off of Brent Mason's Telecaster. Which, by the way, the one I have seen doesn't even have the middle pickup mounted proprerly.[This message was edited by Stephen Wells on 01 May 2006 at 09:44 AM.] [This message was edited by Stephen Wells on 01 May 2006 at 09:45 AM.] |
Ben Sims
Member From: New Mexico
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posted 01 May 2006 10:05 AM
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It's kind of pointless to complain about the quality of Gibson's instruments at this point. Gibson isn't a musical instrument company anymore, apparently - another excerpt from the interview with the CEO:Q: I'd like to talk about what you are trying to make Gibson into. A: Well, we want to be the musician lifestyle company. When you buy a guitar from Gibson, you're buying a lifestyle - the instrument is just a symbol. If they're thinking about it that way, why should they even try to make their instruments a good value? Sounds like he is basically saying, if you just want a quality instrument at a good price, buy elsewhere. I will happily comply. Ben |
Alvin Blaine
Member From: Sandy Valley, Nevada, USA
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posted 01 May 2006 01:59 PM
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quote:
quote:Even my cousin is making dobros now.Cobro?
I kind of like that, I also like the Hobro. Maybe I could get my cousin to make one for me and call it the cuzbro.
It seems that he like putting long names on them and calls 'em Schoonover Resophonics. |
Mark Eaton
Member From: Windsor, Sonoma County, CA
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posted 01 May 2006 02:13 PM
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There's a guy named Hogan who built his first reso, and he calls it HoBro, so the name is already taken. I hear that he is hiring Gibson's lawyers to take the case if anyone else tries to use the name... Alvin-so your cousin is "Schoonie?" He is making some outstanding guitars! ------------------
Mark
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Ben Jones
Member From: Washington, USA
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posted 01 May 2006 02:35 PM
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as long as I can buy a bolt on neck Gibson at Target its cool.  the shark has been jumped i guess. |
Jim Bates
Member From: Alvin, Texas, USA
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posted 01 May 2006 05:54 PM
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Another great line of musical instruments that Gibson has virtually destroyed is the Baldwin pianos. Gibson bought the Baldwin company a few years ago and it (Baldwin Co.) has since died - at least THE Baldwin pianos that were top of the line are now gone. Oh well...Thanx,
Jim |
Ben Elder
Member From: La Crescenta, California, USA
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posted 03 May 2006 02:28 AM
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There's way too much to say at this late hour, bur I'll just state that I spent some time advising the OMI Huntington Beach GM Mike Replogle and artist/products guy Richie Owens about non-resonator Hawaiians--Weissenborns, Konas and such. All their creativity and commitment to making a great product managed to somehow irritate Nashville (that is, Henry). No matter about that, Henry's fascination with being able to see a Louisville Slugger baseball bat made before a factory visitor's eyes spelled the inevitable doom for OMI and Flatiron, both of which factories got the fateful word on the same day--the day of the North Hollywood Bank of America LAPD Shootout. (I watched it unfold live on a fuzzy b/w convenience store TV as I made my way back from HB to LA.) Such was the original conception of the Opry Mills location: see mandolins progress through the stages of production. When OMI was shut down, only one employee opted to make the move to Nashville--accountant Larry Flatt, who has family there. One big reason you didn't see any new Dobros for two or three years there. Managers put in charge of getting Dobro up and running would tell the big cheese what he wanted to hear, then get axed when progress on a thankless from-the-ground-up mission ran into obstacles.Part of what Mike and Richie did was tap into the combined legacy of the companies' forebears. Admittedly, a Kona Hawaiian is a little outside that description (OMI never made any Weissenborn-style hollow-neck instruments; there's a post-script story about that for another time), but that led to what was called a parlor guitar--in truth a copy of an early '30s Gibson L-1--albeit with the Kona/Weissenborn batwing bridge. Occasionally, I see Dolly Parton (Richie's cousin) playing one of these. Another interesting excursion probably had roots in the thin-body Dobrolektric models. Taking a page from early '60s National/Valco catalogs, Dobro made a line of Val Pro electrics--not resoglas but chambered wood bodies with either Firedbird minihumbuckers 
or P-100s. The pic above is the Val Pro Jr. I just got off of eBay. I've been wanting one of these since I saw them in the factory a decade ago. There was a larger Val Pro model--same basic look, in various pastel colors. This is a powder blue and I've tweaked this pic a bit for contrast. In real life, the lacquer and pearloid are yellowing after ten years such that the body's tending toward seafoam green in places and the headstock looks like someone's been stabbing their cigarettes onto the string ends. There are a lot of as yet-untold stories about OMI in the early and mid-nineties and an earnest desire to do things right and with ambition. But, then, behind every heartbreaking failure and frustration, there's a Harvard MBA in the woodpile nearby.[This message was edited by Ben Elder on 03 May 2006 at 02:33 AM.] [This message was edited by Ben Elder on 03 May 2006 at 02:35 AM.] |
Roman Sonnleitner
Member From: Vienna, Austria
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posted 03 May 2006 04:12 AM
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Ben, wow, that is a VERY cool guitar! |
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