Gibson Hound Dog Dobro

[Budman2k]

Has anybody seen or played one of these?? The price seems pretty good - $799.00 @ Musicians Friend

[sinner]

Yes, nice for the price. Looks very good too and in round or square neck versions. I almost got one but something said just wait a bit because it didn't bowl me over completely, you know? I still haven't got a dobro or resonnator, but I am impressed more I think with the Nationals. Check these out and compare side by side if you can, but definitly don't buy sight unseen/unplayed online if you are not familair with the Hounddog or similiar type models. These guitars are cut from a different cloth, so to speak, and you may be in for a surprise.

[gibsonjunkie]

My former College roomate has a Hound Dog from back in the 70's - he sure knows how to play it, too!

[Budman2k]

Well I still haven't purchased one either. I did get a chance to play a Hound Dog and I agree; not bad but it didn't really grab me. I'll have to look into the Nationals.

Budman

[Brownie]

A friend's wife called me recently and recruited me to find a dobro for her hubby's birthday. He went nutz over my Melobro this past summer and really wanted a dobro. Anyway, I started looking around. Paul Beard sells a dobro under the name GoldTone. He designed it based on one of his pricey models, has it built overseas and shipped back to him, where he installs all the hardware and does a setup before shipping them to dealers. He spins his own cones. If you haven't heard of Paul Beard, try a search and cruise his website. His guitars are top shelf. I called Beard's shop and spoke to Howard, and he filled me in on these GoldTones. He likes them better than the Regals D45s that they have been upgrading and selling for a few years. Gruhn's just happened to have one, so I went downtown and checked it out. I was really impressed with it. Good volume, punchy bottom and sweet tone. It smoked the Hound Dogs I played (they had several), and held up well against some of Beard's expensive models. It was set up perfectly. Folks, this is a fantastic dobro. I snagged it and had it shipped up to my friend's wife. Hubby was one happy guy when he opened the case :roll
$625.00 w/ case for the mahogany model. That's what they sell for everywhere, according to Beard's. I think they are a fantastic bargain and nothing comes close in that price range, or even higher. They are also hard to get. Beard's been having trouble getting enough of them. Worth the wait, IMHO.

[1954Gold]

FWIW: I been looking at these:

http://www.libertyguitars.com/

I have a problem not buying Made in US, except Larrivee, which has a factory in California now. Liberty overall got good reviews on Harmony Central and you can buy direct from the maker, so pricing looks pretty reasonable.

At least some US jobs and economic support. But, I think they buy the necks from Korea along with foreign hardware and assemble in Florida...and you can get a Canadian TKL case as an option.

I'm into blues so I'm thinking either a roundneck or a Martin D-15.

[Brownie]

Here's a link to what is probably the best resosurce on the web for info related to steel guitar, both pedal and non-pedal. Lotta pros hang here. There's a forum called "No Peddlers", devoted to discussion of non-pedal steels...lap, square/round neck resos, multi-neck steels, etc. This is where I went first when looking for the dobro I described earlier. They live and breathe this stuff over there. The search function works well, and guys are very good about helping out with questions.

http://steelguitarforum.com

[Budman2k]

thanks for the info Soapcaster. Is there a web site for GoldTone? I bet Gibson doesn't like that name being used! Sounds like a pretty good deal. Do you have pictures of yours to post?

54Gold - I'm with you on buying USA made products; not just guitars. I try my hardest to support local/regional products. That's one of the reasons I liked the faded series by Gibson; less expensive but still decent enough to compete with the imports!

Budman

[1954Gold]

54Gold - I'm with you on buying USA made products; not just guitars. I try my hardest to support local/regional products. That's one of the reasons I liked the faded series by Gibson; less expensive but still decent enough to compete with the imports!

I am glad somebody does... what is more American than slide guitar, bluegrass, or blues? jus't can't bring myself to buy a Korean dobro.

[Brownie]

I am glad somebody does... what is more American than slide guitar, bluegrass, or blues? jus't can't bring myself to buy a Korean dobro.

Then don't buy one. Like it or not, the realities of the marketplace dictate where and how we spend our disposable income. I have a number of instruments and amplifiers, all made in the USA (with the exception of a used CIJ Telecaster). While that may give me a warm fuzzy, it doesn't make me superior to anyone. No one requested your socio-political/economic viewpoint (as valid as it may be). Out-of-context comments such as these are always self-serving when you get right down to it. There are a number of great political forums out there. I can recommend several if you're interested. Political matters are a big part of my life. You and I could probably talk politics all day and find ourselves on the same page. Just not here...in this thread. On a purely emotional/musical level, it matters not where an instrument comes from. What matters is the life you breathe into the wood and steel. A lot of the music you refer to was made on mediocre instruments, which at that time happened to be cheaply mass-produced in America. My love of that music wouldn't be affected in the least, if the instruments had come from China instead of Chi-town.

Back on topic, Budman2K...just do a Google search for "Paul Beard". Go to his website and you'll see pics. You can call and speak with someone if you'd like. They're nice folks
:roll

[1954Gold]

Then don't buy one. ...:roll

You at least got that right.