❌SOLD❌ Dobro Style 27 Squareneck Sunburst, 1979

The Dobro Style 27 Squareneck seen here was built during 1979 at the OMI (Original Musical Instrument) plant in Huntington Beach, before OMI’s sale to Gibson. 

Dobro had a long and somewhat complex history.   Founded in 1928 by John, Rudy and Ed Dopyera – the Dopyera Brothers, shortened to DoBro – as John split from the recently formed National String Instrument Corporation.  DoBro specialized in single-cone resophonic guitars, which were cheaper and easier to make than the National Tri-Cone, and as a bonus were louder.    In 1932, John Dopyera gained control of National, finally merging the companies and in the 1940’s the merged firm was bought by Valco.   Production during WW2 was very limited due to war-materials rationing, especially for the aluminum cones.   After the War, Valco ceased production of the Dobro line.   The Dopyeras regained the DoBro name in 1964, and sold it to Semie Mosley of Mosrite in 1966.   But Mosley went bankrupt and in 1970 the Dopyera’s OMI company regained the name and resumed production in Huntington Beach, California.    In 1983,  Gibson purchased OMI and the DoBro name, and moved production to Nashville.  DoBros are now an Epiphone product.  

Many other companies and builders have produced instruments based on models like the Dobro Style 27; the design has been a staple for many country and bluegrass artists.  

Here we’re looking at an OMI Dobro Style 27 squareneck, built during 1979 at the Huntington Beach facility.  It is in largely original condition though a Barcus Berry external magnetic pickup has been added, with the output jack by the neck heel.     The body is Birch laminate, with a Maple neck.  The fingerboard appears to be a Rosewood, possibly Pau Ferro. 

This nice Dobro Style 27 example is in overall good condition,  with expected wear – though obviously not to the frets!

A Seagull padded gig bag is included.