1960s Dobro (Mosrite) C-65 Plainsman Electrified Resonator Guitar

Overview: What we've got here appears to be a modified Dobro C-65. At the time, these instruments were being made by Mosrite in California (this one probably dates to '65-66 or so) and that means they have lightweight bodies, an adjustable-angle neck (no need for neck resets) that's slim and fast like an electric, and cool styling. This has all of that, but its original Dobro-cone (spider bridge) configuration has been changed over to a National-style biscuit-bridge setup. This meant that the guy who modded it fit a whole cone-holding aluminum contraption in there to fit the current US-made Replogle cone -- the top needed a little cutting to do that and it's holding-up fine. He added some bracing-posts to make-up for the changes, though. The end result is something like a '60s interpretation of a '30s wood-body National sound -- fiery and up-front and punchy as all heck.

Interesting features: The modder also added a GFS big-poles Strat pickup, too, and a wiring harness, which makes it electric-friendly as long as you've got nickel-wound strings on it. We have a set of 49w-11 electric strings with a wound G to that end. It's a fairly loud guitar so you can lean into it with a flatpick and get almost gypsy-jazz vibes or back it off for a springier sound. It fingerpicks beautifully, of course, and a country-blues hound will find it easy to love. Electric players will like that quick neck too!

Repairs included: A lot went on, here. Sarah gave it a level/dress of the frets and I helped her set it all up and adjust it. Luckily, the modder opted for a brand-new National biscuit with the compensated maple saddle insert, which made setup a little easier. We did have to recut a bit of the hole the modder cut so we could fix the cone in the proper position for good intonation, though, reattach a ground to the tailpiece for the wiring, an tidy-up the fit of all the parts. The coverplate had to move a bit to fit the job but, interestingly-enough, it has a detachable wrist-wrest/bridge cover which makes micro-adjustments to the setup easy-peasy. All that said, it's stable, sturdy, playing as it should, and is ready to roll. It has a set-screw on the back of the instrument that allows for neck angle adjustments -- meaning that, on the fly, one can "loosen" it in a few seconds to get higher action for slide if desired -- and then go back to normal.

• Weight: 5 lbs 7 oz
• Scale length: 24 3/4"
• Nut width: 1 3/4"
• Neck shape: slim oval/C
• Board radius: 10"
• Depth at first fret: 3/4"
• Depth at seventh fret: 13/16"
• Body width: 14 1/4"
• Body depth: 3 1/4"
• Body wood: ply spruce top, ply mahogany back/sides
• Bridge: modern National maple biscuit w/compensated saddle
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: maple
• Pickups: 1x GHS big-pole single coil
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 46w-10
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-lower

Condition notes: Overall it looks good but it has been modded. The cone cut-out hole has been enlarged some and a "soundwell" fit that hangs-down from the top. The pickup and pickup surround are not original and we had to hand-fit the pickup surround to fit better (the modder's job was a bit wonky). There's weather-check throughout the finish (crackles) and there are parts where the veneer shows hairline cracks. Because the whole body is 3-ply, it's a non-issue, however, and won't be a problem. There's wear and tear to the neck in spots and someone added a middle-position string tree for the D&G strings. The truss cover is a replacement. The truss works but is barely-engaged.

It comes with: It's got a case of some sort up there in storage...!

Consignor tag: HKNS