Guitar Question

Okay, so I am looking at buying a Dobro Guitar for my boyfriend for Christmas. I know a little bit about Guitars (Taylors are the best Acoustic, and Les Pauls are the best Electric), but pretty much other than that I have no idea on what is good or not. But the Guitar that I am looking at for him is a Galvastian Electric Dobro. The guy who has is says that he thinks it is made by Samrick or Samick or something. I have no idea who that is, or if that is good or not. So anyone who has knowledge on Guitars can you please help me out. My boyfriend has been playing for like 20 years and he knows what a good guitar is, so I don't want to get him a crap one, I want to get him one that is pretty nice (I am poor because of Christmas, so please don't tell me to by him like some $2,000 kind, cus that just ain't happenin'). Any info would be FABULOUS!!!!! Thanks guys.

bh... I can give you an answer soon ... my hubby and I have been crossing paths the past few days.. my husband plays guitar...... He has a Les Paul... a unique one it's beautiful... he'll know ... so I'll ask him for ya :)

Is it one of these? I tried a google search and its all I could find..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3760098153&tc=photo

As far as I'm aware, its a nice guitar.
Good sound for country / blues music. Sounds like a nice present.

ps. Les Pauls are the best electric? Controversial.. very controversial...
:p

Originally posted by ~Streff~

ps. Les Pauls are the best electric? Controversial.. very controversial...
:p

My thoughts exactly, Streff! :)

Bh....

My husband asked what exactly does he play?

Well Mer, He has 2 Stratacasters, 1 flying V, and an Alvarez Acoustic. All I know is we were listening to Ben Harper, and I told him that I loved a particular song, and he said that it was a Dobro Guitar, and then he said that he wants to have one eventually. He knows guitars, so I don't want to get him a crap one. I think that I might go one of the guitar shops in Charlotte, and see if they have any there, my guess is they will. I am still kinda new to ebay, so I am going to have to think about buying from there (it scares me a little to dish out over $200, and not have it in my hands at the end of the transaction). But still, I just want some ideas on good Dobro guitar brands, so that I can look. Also, wasn't trying to start a guitar debate, I am just going from what my boyfriend said, he personally loves Les Pauls, he has said that there are other guitars that sound better, but a Les Paul is like the Manolo Blanhik of Guitar (best way I know how to describe it, he has no idea who Manolo is, that was my comparison), but that some might like Jimmy Choos better. Does that make sense at all, I know that Mer will understand. Anyway any help would be great.

A Dobro guitar is what's called a resonator guitar. Rather than the top vibrating to create the sound, it has a passive resonator inside of it. Dobro style guitars are popular with blues players and slide players.

A real Dobro is expensive, over a thousand dollars. If its made by Sammick, its probably inexpensive, under five hundred. Sammick is the largest guitar manufacturer in the world, and many inexpensive guitars are made by them, and they also market under their own name as well. Sammick is capable of making a fine instrument, but they can also be less vigilant regarding quality.

Fender sells a Dobro style guitar that goes for under 400., and Fender is a good name. Judging by what you say he plays, he knows a good instrument when he plays one, so try to avoid a poor playing instrument.

Regardless of which you pick, I would stay away from e-bay. A Dobro style guitar has alot more to it than a normal accoustic, and therefore more to be wrong with it in a used instrument. Personally, I do not believe in buying an instrument without playing it. Bring a friend who can play with you to Guitar Center or your local music store and have him/her play it while you're there so that they can say if it plays poorly or well. I suggest Guitar Center because they have a very reasonable return policy.

In any case, if my beautiful lady put a guitar in my hand at Christmas time, I'd be happy, regardless of the price point of the instrument.

For the record, I play a Fender Stratocaster with a scalloped neck and Dimarzio pickups (HS-1 in the neck, HS-2 in the middle, and an HS-3 in the bridge), very similar to the Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster. I also play a 1967 Danelectro and a Fender Strataccoustic (a really weird and cheap accoustic that I've tweeked and set up so that it plays great. Since it sounds great plugged in, its fine for playing out. If its stolen, I won't care because its cheap). In the past, I have owned a Telecaster, a Gretsch streamliner, and a 1978 Guild. I learned that it doesn't take an expensive instrument to play well, but the instrument should play well.

Keep on rockin,

DanE