Dobson banjos.

[Carl Anderton]

A man attended my concert last night and afterwards told me he had a Dobson banjo stamped 1868 that he wants me to look at.  I think I'll try and see him today.  I've never studied the Dobsons very much, nor am I particularly knowledgable about construction specifics on any banjos.  I'll take a camera with me and see if I can show it to you all.

[Dave Culgan]

Hi Carl, I have a '67 stamped Dobson flush-fret neck that I've grafted onto a simple bent wood pot. A mongrel for sure, but it plays nice and its loud. Not sure about the '68 but mine should have had one of those complicated closed back Dobson pots. Too difficult for me to re-create at the time ( I was given the neck sans dowel stick a long time ago). I did what I had to do, it was hard to find reproductions back in the day unlike now where there are so many to choose from.  Look forward to seeing any pics you can get. Regards, Dave

[Carl Anderton]

I saw the Dobson, it looked to be in mint condition to me.  It was stamped 1867, not 1868.  The "flush frets" were actually indentations, almost as if something had been removed from the slot.  I don't know enough about Dobsons to know what they're supposed to be.  It played very nice, just needs a taller bridge so you can dig into it a little more.  The owner wants to loan it to me for awhile in a few days, should be interesting to get to know it.  It'll be fun taking a closer look at the Dobson tutors.

[Ian Bell]

Very cool. Are the (looks like ivory) bridge and tailpiece original?

Carl Anderton said:

I saw the Dobson, it looked to be in mint condition to me.  It was stamped 1867, not 1868.  The "flush frets" were actually indentations, almost as if something had been removed from the slot.  I don't know enough about Dobsons to know what they're supposed to be.  It played very nice, just needs a taller bridge so you can dig into it a little more.  The owner wants to loan it to me for awhile in a few days, should be interesting to get to know it.  It'll be fun taking a closer look at the Dobson tutors.

[Carl Anderton]

I don't know enough about the Dobson model 1868 to answer.  I think there's a picture of one in "America's Instrument, The Banjo in the Nineteenth Century."  I'll have to try and find my copy.

Ian Bell said:

Very cool. Are the (looks like ivory) bridge and tailpiece original?

Carl Anderton said:

I saw the Dobson, it looked to be in mint condition to me.  It was stamped 1867, not 1868.  The "flush frets" were actually indentations, almost as if something had been removed from the slot.  I don't know enough about Dobsons to know what they're supposed to be.  It played very nice, just needs a taller bridge so you can dig into it a little more.  The owner wants to loan it to me for awhile in a few days, should be interesting to get to know it.  It'll be fun taking a closer look at the Dobson tutors.