Q1. What is a Dobro.
A1. The Dobro is an acoustic guitar with a metal resonator built into the Soundhole.
Q2. What is the point of the metal resonator.
A2. The metal resonator in the sound-hole is like a loudspeaker and tries to amplify the sound of the guitar.
Q3. Who invented the Dobro.
A3. John Dopyera invented the Dobro in the 1930′s. At that time there were no guitar amplifiers to compete with instruments like the banjo so John and his brother tried to make a louder guitar.
Q4. Why doesn’t it sound quite like an acoustic guitar.
A4. It doesn’t sound like an acoustic guitar because of all the metalwork that goes to make up the resonator.
Q5. Are there different kinds of Dobro.
A5. Yes, there are two kinds the Round-neck more suitable for blues music and played normally. The Square-neck is played flat on the players lap or held on a slant and is played with a metal slide and used in bluegrass and country music. The strings are a good height off from the neck with a Square-neck which produces more volume and sustain and no strange rattly noises from the fretboard as the metal slide is used.
Q6. What kind of strings are used on the Dobro.
A6. Steel strings are used on the Dobro so the metal slide can be used to good effect and helps to give the guitar a more ringy banjo sound which helps the resonator.
Q7. Does the Dobro use regular tuning.
A7. No – the Dobro uses a number of open tunings essential when using a slide technique.