1960s Dopera (Dopyera/Dobro) Bantar 6-String Resonator Banjo-Guitar

Overview: This old "bantar" banjitar dates from the late '60s when Mosrite owned the Dobro brand and the Dopyera brothers themselves were sort-of working out of the same California shop. That explains the Mosrite-engineered neck on a very-much Dopyera rim and resonator. This was from the tail-end of their personal output of instruments and many of these guys are one-off or sort-of custom affairs. This one has a fantastically-engraved aluminum resonator with a metallic blue finish, for starters!

Tone: It's bright, chipper, and bluegrassy in its way. There's plenty of volume, here.

Feel: The neck is very fast and "Fendery" in feel, for the period -- a narrow nut width and very-curvy fretboard over a slim-medium, very-C-shaped profile. It plays like an electric guitar and is even strung with electric 10s (plain G) for optimal tone and feel. Banjitars are ruined tonewise when heavier, acoustic-style strings are used -- they get woofy and flubby-sounding.

Interesting features: To begin-with, what a cool headstock, right? The pearloid veneer is excellent and the sculptural truss cover is neat. The rim is all one-piece cast (aluminum?) and the resonator is aluminum as well. Its colors and finish are crisp and clean. The rim is an "archtop" setup with the tonering-top set in from the edges a bit.

Repairs included: It got a mild setup and minor adjustment to the radius and compensation on the bridge. It had already been refretted (a good job) and the 

• Weight: 8 lbs 9 oz
• Scale length: 24 5/8"
• Nut width: 1 5/8"
• Neck shape: slim C
• Board radius: 9 1/2"
• Head diameter: 11”
• Resonator diameter: 13 3/4"
• Depth overall at rim: 3"
• Tonering: archtop, integrated
• Bridge: maple/ebony compensated (3 plain, 3 wound)
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 46w, 36w, 26w, 17, 13, 10
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-modern

Condition notes: It's quite clean overall with the usual small scuffs/edge wear from handling here and there. The headstock does have a small hairline chip-out/crack repair at the bottom of its volute. It looks like it's quite old and the repair is holding pat just fine. As far as I can tell, it's completely original except for the bridge and perhaps the head.

It comes with: It has a good, older hard case.

Consignor tag: BCK