Help with Dobro serial number

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

Moderator: Brad Bechtel

Roger Pearson
Posts: 33
Joined: 16 Mar 1999 1:01 am
Location: Fort Dodge, Iowa USA

Help with Dobro serial number

Post by Roger Pearson »

If I am posting this on the wrong spot, please let me know.
A good friend of mine died last fall and I'm trying to help his wife sell some of his instruments. He has a real nice wooden Dobro that she wants to sell. The serial number shows:
8 1615 1d on the headstock. As far as I can figure out, this is a 1978 Dobro, 1615 is the number of production, and 1d is made of wood. Am I correct on this? The Dobro is in excellent condition with a hardshell case. We are l located in northwest Iowa. What would be a good price for her to get for this Dobro? Thanks for all you help.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Brad Bechtel
Moderator
Posts: 8523
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA

Re: Help with Dobro serial number

Post by Brad Bechtel »

According to my reading of Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars, it would be made in 1988.

It would be impossible to guess at a good price based on the photo of the serial number. Please post more photos of the rest of the guitar (neck, body, front and back) to help us help you guess at a good price.
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
User avatar
Jerry Overstreet
Posts: 14469
Joined: 11 Jul 2000 12:01 am
Location: Louisville Ky

Re: Help with Dobro serial number

Post by Jerry Overstreet »

From what I remember from previously owning an 88 build OMI, this guitar appears to be a year '81 build. IIRC, just the D alone, no numbers, indicates wood body.

I'm not sure, but possibly the tuning machines have been changed out.

I agree with Brad concerning value. Maybe look at reverb.com or ebay.com, possibly the resohangout.com for similar instruments and adjust value accordingly. Just about all of these sources are going to place a higher value than actual, but that's what we're seeing these days.