restore an old resonator?

[baymule]

I've got an old resonator guitar that needs some fixing up. The fretboard is rutted out, headstock is cracked, needs a new bridge, and the body is cracked up close to the neck. Is it worth fixing? Who can do a good job repairing it? I have zero confidence in the "luthiers" around here. It was my great grandmother's guitar and I want to keep it for sentimental reasons, but I'd like to get it in a playable condition if possible. Does anyone know what it is or how old it is. I do know she played it in the 1930s or 40s.

[baymule]

Some pix

[kingfish]

Don't know much about the guitar you have, or how expensive or possible it would be to restore, but I do know that if I had an instrument that one of MY grandparents played, I'd hock the farm to get it working.

This one is all about love and family - and that alone is worth everything.

The fact that the instrument is still around and in your possession speaks volumes.

Looks like she played the crap out of it, though.

You lucky dog!

[Birdmankustomz]

Thats ALOT of scalloping Its a beaut though, I love it

[tap4154]

That's a very interesting looking Dobro, both the body shape and unusual cover plate. Googling around I found a YT of a guy playing one just like it:




Hang onto it! Either do some research and restore it yourself, or if you can afford to, find a good luthier to take care of her.

[ironweed]

I'm no expert, but that looks like a little Dobro Model 19 Angelus (but could have been private-branded under some name, which was SOP for Dobro). The black tuner buttons suggest it might be from the 30's. Model 19 meant that list price was nineteen bucks. The cover plate design is called "poinsettia" If you try to make it playable, you may find that the neck has shifted so much that it will have to be played lapstyle. You can google around for some idea of current prices.

[baymule]

Thanks for the replies guys! So I guess this is a 1935ish Regal Dobro. That YT video really got me fired up, gotta try to get mine going now. I played it as a kid, first guitar I ever played. I guess I had forgotten what they sound like. I found it in an old Sears catalog and it cost $19.50.

[baymule]

Sorry ironweed, didn't see your post. Thanks for the info. There is one on e-bay right now for $280 bin. Maybe I need to snag it too and have two of them.

[unezrider]

hello friend,
my guess would be a mid 30's regal, chicago made reso. check the saddle; if it's a 'biscuit' bridge (round, with an ebony or maple saddle) you're probably not looking at a dopyera brother's (dobro) instrument. (they invented the 'spider' bridge.) but don't quote me on that.
as far as restoring it, i know national resophonic will sometimes do restoration work on american made resos, so that's an option. you might want to contact vintagenationals.com as i know they do this sort of stuff, too. though i have no idea on their craftsmanship. another option may be elderly instruments, as their reputation on resos is pretty good. plus there is a lot of reso people over at michael messer's forum who know a lot about these guitars. might not hurt to inquire there either.
best of luck with her!

& for what it's worth, that doesn't look like the same guitar as in the YT video. different F holes, different dot markers, etc… though the bodies of the two guitars looks very similar to the short lived national el trovador from the mid 30's. those bodies were made by kay & sold to national. kay very possibly could have been suppling bodies to a few makers. might find some good info on that era of national at notecannons.com

[IamBlue]

Just curious.....how do you go about repairing a neck in that condition ?

[FMA]

Might be worth your while to contact Beard Guitars in Maryland. Beard could give you a good idea of what to expect and may even be able to recommend some luthiers in your neighborhood.