Mark Makin's lavishly illustrated, 423-page, tour-de-force explores the fascinating musical instruments invented by John Dopyera from 1923 to 1993.

Researched, written and lavishly illustrated by Mark Makin, this 423-page tour-de-force explores the fascinating, physical and aesthetic, design world of the musical instruments produced by the Dopyera Brothers from 1923-1993.

Famous for their 'National' guitars, the Dopyeras went on to pioneer electric pickups, fibreglass construction, amplifiers etc, and influenced the sound of Country Music, Bluegrass, Blues and Hawaiian music.

Arranged from the earliest National Banjos and Triplates, Duolians, Style 0s, wood bodied Nationals, through Dobros both wood and metal, jazz style acoustics, electrics, solid bodies, Resoglas and the last Valco guitars of 1968. There are sections of instruments covering the Gardena period, Mosrite, and OMI both in Long Beach and Huntington Beach. Following these are sections on Lap Steels and Consoles from 1935 to 1968.

A large section of amplifiers from the 1930s to the 1960s (both National, Supro and Trade House variants) follows, and the book concludes with a 36 page database of serial numbers and various data of National, Dobro, OMI and a large cross section of recently discovered Valco instruments.
Throughout, the book is lavishly illustrated with stunning, graphic design art capturing over 1100 musical instruments and amplifiers and more than 100 artistes who used them.

This is the definitive collection of all the various developments, designs, colors and engraving patterns of everything produced by the Dopyera Brothers in their various companies throughout the 20th century - National, Dobro, Supro, Valco, Mosrite, Regal and OMI. It also features lap steels, amplifiers and various National and Valco manufactured items for other Trade houses.

A comprehensive pictorial encyclopaedia is concluded with an updated list of the serial numbers of known and re-discovered instruments - now in excess of 4200.

The physical and aesthetic design of these instruments are truly stunning and this book is equally breath-taking.

Additional Details

Label: Document Records

Genre: Misc.

Language: English

Run Time: 00:00 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 01/23/24

UPC: 9780957474604