❌SOLD❌ Dobro Model 66S Squareneck OMI Sandblast Sunburst, 1975

Built from 1972 to 1995, the Dobro Model 66s was also available in a round-neck version, features a wood body, single cone with biscuit bridge, and a unique sandblasted sunburst finish.

Dobro has a long history, starting with the invention of the resophonic guitar in 1927. Guitarist George Beauchamp took his idea for a new, louder guitar to luthier John Dopyera, and they created the first National tricone guitars. Many of the metal parts were made in the nearby shop of Adolph Rickenbacher, who went on to create another company. Dopyera soon left to form DoBro with his brothers Rudy and Ed. The two companies competed for a time, but in 1932 Dobro re-joined National and within a short time had merged the two, and in 1939 the Dobro brand disappeared. Because of their use of aluminum, all resonator instrument production ended by 1942, the materials diverted to the war effort. The company changed again, now named Valco, with products including amplifiers under many names.

In 1954, Rudy and Ed Dopyera re-started the company under the name DB Original, at first using old stock materials. The Dobro logo seen on this Dobro Model 66s was introduced around 1962. In 1966, the company was sold to Semie Mosley of Mosrite guitars, but by 1968 was bankrupt. Just before this, Ed and Rudy, with Gabriella Lazar formed OMI, the Original Musical Instrument company, and started building Hound Dog branded guitars. OMI finally obtained the rights to the Dobro name in 1970. OMI was sold to the Lizaks in 1984, and then to Gibson in 1993. Over this history, many changes were made to the location of production facilities.

Here we’re looking at an unusual guitar, the Dobro Model 66s, a wood bodied, single cone resophonic guitar with round sound holes and square neck. Its unique feature is the finish. The guitar was first given a standard Sunburst, then many extra coats of a tinted lacquer, and then that was sandblasted into a ‘French Scroll’ design.

This Dobro Model 66s example dates to 1975 and was built at Huntington Beach, California. It’s in good playing condition, with some expected tarnish to the plated metal parts, particularly where the player’s hand would rest. The Sandblasted Sunburst finish is in good shape, with a few dents and chips but it is largely intact.

The original brown hard shell case is included.