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Lot 39 THE DOBRO
The term “dobro” has become a commonly used term for any wood-bodied guitar made with an internal aluminum cone resonator, however the name stems from the trademarked name Dobro, derived from the Dopyera Brothers. The Dopyeras began making these unique instruments in 1929, based on the earlier work of John Matthias Augustus Stroh, who in 1899 incorporated an aluminum cone diaphragm to increase the tonal volume of string instruments. By the mid-1930s the application of resonator guitars became obsolete due to the advances in electrical amplification. Played with either a slide, bottleneck or traditionally fingered, the instrument’s unique sound was first embraced by Hawaiian musicians, followed by blues, country and bluegrass musicians.
The term “dobro” has become a commonly used term for any wood-bodied guitar made with an internal aluminum cone resonator, however the name stems from the trademarked name Dobro, derived from the Dopyera Brothers. The Dopyeras began making these unique instruments in 1929, based on the earlier work of John Matthias Augustus Stroh, who in 1899 incorporated an aluminum cone diaphragm to increase the tonal volume of string instruments. By the mid-1930s the application of resonator guitars became obsolete due to the advances in electrical amplification. Played with either a slide, bottleneck or traditionally fingered, the instrument’s unique sound was first embraced by Hawaiian musicians, followed by blues, country and bluegrass musicians.
DOBRO, LOS ANGELES, CIRCA 1933
A RESONATOR GUITAR, MODEL 27
Closed20 June 2019
Price Realised
USD 112,500
More Information
Specialist note
David Gilmour purchased this Dobro in December 1979 from Frank Lucido of California Guitar in Ventura, California, during a brief interlude between completing final recording and mixing sessions for The Wall at Producers Workshop in Los Angeles in November 1979 and beginning production rehearsals for the upcoming Wall Tour in January 1980. The Wall Tour opened at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on 7th February 1980. Gilmour kept this guitar for both home and studio use.