Making a Resonator Guitar (Dobro) HD 720p

I love the sound of Bluegrass and Country music and especially the sound of resonator guitar (Dobro), lap steel and pedal steel. A while ago I made me a simpel lap steel and after a lot of practice I got the hang of it. Then I got the idea to try to make my own resonator guitar. It was an exciting journey and the result was quite satisfying.

[@blessedheavyelements8544]

400 years from now this will still exist and be in a museum as an example of the art...Hey..you never know! :). Thank You for the video and bringing us along on your journey :). Respect and Salute! Best Regards and Best Wishes for 2023!

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks a lot for positive response. Best Regards

[@twatmunro]

@@MacNeeb -- It looked great, but when you played it, it sounded fabulous. Great job.

[@alanfbrookes9771]

I've been an active luthier for the last 60 years, and I watched the video all the way through. You can always learn something new. I was a little perturbed by how close your fingers came to that scroll saw blade and the circular saw. Be careful. You need all your fingers to play....

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you for watching. I promise to be careful with my fingers.

[@8888jaws]

No you don't, just look at Django Reinhardt.

[@ROMIX2944]

Old enough and still got all his fingers, just don’t tell him how,to behave with saw i guess he could teach you how

[@dominusanuli3595]

@@ROMIX2944no need for extra risk, especially if it makes you look like an uneducated idiot.

[@jackpot1495]

Me too.🙈

[@richparker7778]

Magnificent job ! Cheers from the USA

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you. Cheers from Norway

[@fongy200]

Fantastic build Tom. I am also a lover of Bluegrass. It's great to see someone build a Resonator, i cannot recall seeing one made before. I have a 1967 National O type, it's pretty rare because it's left hand. Funny i bought it wanting it for slide but found it wasn't working for me, i just couldn't get it. I use it in the house, it's on a stand i play it every day. I use an Ovation for slide, i know it's unconventional but it works for me and i get results. Thanks Tom, really enjoyed watching.

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you. It`s probably a rather special way of building a resonator, but it works for me and the sound was surprisingly good. Thanks for watching. Best Regards. Tom

[@alasdaircarstairs9767]

I am really impressed! watched whole way through and loved it

[@MacNeeb]

Glad you like it. Thanks for watching

[@Tbonz19]

Howdy from Texas! Wow. Design, build and play. Cool tools too. Thanks for sharing your fantastic build. I enjoyed this.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks a lot.

[@Ninety2guits]

Nicely done. Love the detail on the end of the fretboard.

[@jonnybeck6723]

2nd that

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you. I like that detail too. Thanks for watching

[@geoffsides408]

Amazing work. You should be proud of that. Looks great and sounds great.

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you very much and thanks for watching. I am quite happy with this resonator guitar, but there are things I could have done differently and better. It`s probably not the last resonator I`ve built.

[@rodneyharouff5739]

that was cool! & sounds good too!

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks

[@franciscodeassisbalbinodes2143]

Estou emocionado em ver esse video. O carinho em fazer o instrumento. Isso e muito lindo.

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you very mutch. 👍🏻

[@bigmacmwm]

Beautiful guitar.

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you

[@jackpot1495]

Fab video , would love to make 1 but at present still trying to get around learning a bit more on guitar. Great tho this , step by step really well covered . Thank you ☘️😎

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you.

[@elirivsotier6977]

Great work Tom- 👏

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you

[@georgemijatovic4060]

Pretty darn Cool!

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks

[@mariovizoli3136]

Excellent job..It was a luthiery class..!! Thanks..!! Watching directly from Brazil..!!

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you. Thanks for watching

[@jimmymalone3494]

Great job I love the sound of a Dobro.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks a lot. Thanks for watching.

[@GrayPlayer]

Very nice sounding!

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you.

[@lawnboyfromhell]

You sir, are a true craftsman!

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you very much. Thanks for watching

[@griffisguitars2921]

Great video!! I love it. Very original and innovative. Good stuff. Thanks for taking the time to out the video together. That was a lot of editing and hard work.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks a lot. Glad you noticed the video. There are as many, if not more, hours behind the video than it took to make the resonator guitar. Thank you for watching.

[@RichRoberts-vs3vr]

Well done, obvioosly a lot of time and focused effort s required. Troy B. Is he best reso instructor on the web, I have checked out numerous coaches over the years.

[@MacNeeb]

Hello and thank you for the nice feedback. Yes, it takes a lot of time and effort to complete such a project. Fortunately, I have access to a well-equipped carpentry workshop and that makes the project much easier. When it comes to Troy B I agree he is one of the best. Have a nice day

[@jamesmyers2087]

Unreal skills. Humbly bows.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks a lot

[@bluesdog3621]

Great video,enjoyed watching, I have a cheap Regal resonator guitar that I love playing, this one looks beautiful.

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you very much. I`m glad you enjoyed it. Yes I am quite happy with it and suprised by the good sound despite the thickness of the wood. Thanks for watching.

[@freddyjholst60]

Very nice very nice indeed I enjoyed the people and do the messages very nice to be in contact with people there so kind 😎

[@freddyjholst60]

🙏🏻🙏🏻😎

[@MacNeeb]

Thank yoy. Thanks for watching.

[@markhoeflinger1040]

Tom, this dobro wasnt your first rodeo......lol. you are quite a craftsman Tom, great woodworking mahcinery that you have, great hand working skills, and the sound of your dobro is abosolutely fantastic.....!!

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you so much. Thanks for watching

[@OzarkMountainGoats]

Nice job Tom.

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you

[@rogergdavis6605]

Nice job, and you didn/t ski on the wood. Best of luck on your endeavors.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks. No, I`m to old to ski on the wood

[@jeffmancuso2715]

Mesmerizing. Thanks for the escape!

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks for watching

[@dennisneo1608]

What a cool resonator.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks

[@WorshipFog777]

Wow, denne ble fin! Fantastisk inspirerende å se prossessen, jeg driver og flørter litt med ideen om å byghe et par instrumenter selv, og da kommer gode tips som denne videoen veldig godt med 😊👍 kjempefin dobro, og så godt den sang da gitt!

[@MacNeeb]

Takk så mye. Hyggelig hvis den kan virke som inspirasjon til kreativitet. Dette ble jo en "crossover" av en resonator og en lapsteel, men det ble mye dobro lyd i den. I våres bygget jeg en lapsteel der jeg også filma hele prosessen. Det filmprosjektet holder jeg på å redigere nå om dagen. Kommer vel ut i løpet av en mnd. eller så. Jeg har også tidligere laga en kopi av Dusenbergs lapsteel, Fairytale. Til den bestilte jeg en del originaldeler fra Dusenberg. Bl.a. multibenderen som gjør det mulig å få litt "pedal steel" sound. Dette prosjektet ble dessverre ikke filma. Hvis du har tid og mulighet synes jeg du skal slutte å flørte å gå i gang med bygginga. Det er utrolig givende når enn får til noe som funker.. Takk for at du så på.

[@WorshipFog777]

@@MacNeeb Ja jeg så fairytale kopien, veldig lik😃👍 skal få fortgang i sakene og bygget meg en lap steel til å begynne med 😊

[@martinlehfeldt5514]

Homemade one of a kind instruments are the best. If they are made well. I love your fret markers and the red burst color job. Very nice.

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you and thanks for watching

[@alfonsoandreomartinez7851]

Felicidades Maestro,un gran trabajo

[@MacNeeb]

Muchas gracias. Gracias por ver

[@altepost3805]

The tuners are mounted the wrong way round... - but nothing is lost yet: swap them from one side to the other and everything is ok! The other 2 guitars in the video show how the tuners are mounted the correct way! otherwise nice build!

[@gregalderson128]

⁶⁶⁶

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks for pointing it out, but the tuners have been swapped already

[@FDNY8231]

Nice job brother ....

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you

[@rocinblues]

Wow, impressive.. great work!!

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you

[@stevensexton204]

I couldn’t take my eyes of the master craftsman, all three times. Watching you create is an inspiration of life in all its aspects. I have to go now, it’s late and I want to watch again.

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching. Have a nice day.

[@slimydroid]

While the guitar building is very enjoyable, I wanted to give kudos to your bench sander. Using a fixed belt sander is inspired, a great budget method of achieving the same result as a more expensive tool. I've wanted a sander for a while but can't afford one, following your approach I think I can finally put something together.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks. Yes, this is a reasonable and good alternative to an expensive bench sander. Good luck and thanks for watching.

[@MrSimhacker]

Sounds beautiful.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks. Yes, I myself was surprised by the good sound despite the thickness of the wood. I placed a Schatten resonator pickup to the underside of the cone and it works fine, but I rarely use it. Thanks for watching.

[@jcmusco]

Great job and sounds great too.

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you, nice too hear. Thanks for watching

[@haroldschultz5864]

I admire your craftsmanship and inventive mind . I've looked all over for how-to videos on a resonator and there is little if any . You've inspired me now . I've got a bunch of dry sapele in my garage and this looks like a very practical way of going about it . Which vendor did you secure the cone and other parts from ? Yours looks very cool . Thanks.

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you very much. Nice that I inspired you. After searching online, I finally found granado.com. They could supply the cone, spider bridge, the coverplate and everything I needed to get started. Good luck. I hope your dry sapele turns into a fine instrument. Just go for it.

[@1pixman]

Yeah love the skills but a face mask to protect your lungs from the Dust.just a suggestion since I see you wear Ear protection...

[@robertdicarlo4490]

Sounds good, keep on the sunny side.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks a lot

[@charliemancuso5690]

Good job. I enjoyed watching.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks a lot.

[@valley_robot]

Fantastic work my friend

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks a lot. Thank you for watching

[@mumblbeebee6546]

Easy to find 😂 - easy on the eye too, and got the right sound, nice!

[@MacNeeb]

I haven't misplaced it yet :-) Yes, I'm quite happy with the look, and very happy with the sound. Thank you for watching

[@waltergwiazda1803]

That's wonderful 😊

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you

[@waltergwiazda1803]

@@MacNeeb no man thank you!

[@davidallen5320]

Ok The resonator is out of a box I surmised that ten minutes ago

[@MacNeeb]

👍🏻😃

[@leojosepila3005]

wow nice job! however, I almost fell at the edge of my seat when you push the wood towards the saw just a hair away from the flesh of your fingers...

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you and take it easy, I still got all my fingers :-)

[@livewire4495]

Outstanding! 😎

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks a lot and thanks for watching

[@patrickrooney5130]

Lovely job buddy.

[@MacNeeb]

Glad you like it. Thanks for watching

[@alinchitown7556]

Nice work maybe in the future you can do some nice pearl inlays for the fret markers. Nonetheless very impressive work, great sound you should be very proud.

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you. I agree with you about the fret markers, they will probably be replaced.Thanks for watching

[@aurorarogers4358]

Very cool! Quick suggestion. Try heavier strings, D'addario EJ42 at least. That will drive the cone Still, cool guitar!

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you, and thanks for the tip about strings.I will try it out

[@aurorarogers4358]

@@MacNeeb before you do what is the scale length?

[@MacNeeb]

63,5 cm

[@MrFlint51]

@@aurorarogers4358 That is exactly 25 inches, so between a Gibson and Fender

[@jazzcritter]

Ever heard of a respirator? LOL Really great job.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks

[@bastferry3518]

Bravo

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks

[@giorgiomenon]

Tuners have been mounted in the wrong way, as strings must push the two parts closer. I prefer bone instead of wood for nut and saddle. And i wonder what is the output jack for: have you placed a sensor (piezo or else) somewhere? Anyway the footage is really well done.

[@MacNeeb]

The tuners have been changed. I have mounted a Schatter resonator guitar pickup on the underside of the cone. I intend to replace the nut with a roller nut from Certano. Thanks for watching.

[@MrMike81800]

Great job. I have never seen a build like that. Very interesting! And it sounded great too. I bet it really vibrate. Very solid. Is it heavy? You didn't show how you wired it. I would like to see that. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you for the nice feedback. I've never seen a building like this either. Just a crazy idea, but it worked. Yes, it is solid and weighs a lot, but not much more than a "large" lap steel. It is wired with a "Schatten Design Resonator-Guitar Pickup RG-3" which is attached under the cone. Works very well. The acoustic sound is also surprisingly good. Thank you for watching

[@andrewjmahoney]

Wow, that’s things things almost solid wood!

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks for watching

[@fjdarling]

You didn't hook the Jack to anything? Beautiful Resonator Guitar. Sounds really great.

[@MacNeeb]

You're absolutely right. I make some recordings that I used as playback when I filmed. Thanks for watching

[@paulshakespeare3348]

The page shown dealing with scale length refers to 63.500 inches. A typical acoustic scale is 25 or so inches, which is 63.5 cm. The others listed are similarly mis-labelled. It seems someone confused metric with imperial.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks for watching

[@pohldriver]

My God man! You're getting your hand around that thick ne-ooohhh! You play it like a lap steel! Kinda makes me want to turn my crappy beginner guitar into one. And please, use a push bar or stick to push the wood through the table saw. My dad lost the tips off three of his fingers when he was 62. My mom made him get rid of all his tools after he got put on blood thinners because of that. Of course, she wasn't dead a month when he started rebuilding his wood shop.

[@MacNeeb]

Tanks for watching

[@alanfbrookes9771]

My thoughts exactly. I winced each time his hands came within an inch of those saw blades.

[@patricknoel2122]

Very nice work, it doesn't need a amp hook up tho right? I "old try to make one without?

[@MacNeeb]

Hello. Thanks. Although I have mounted a mic in the bottom of the cone, is it not necessary. There is a nice acoustic sound in the resonator without a mic. Good luck with your work

[@waltergwiazda1803]

Yeck ya!👍

[@MacNeeb]

Terima kasih telah menonton

[@garrysmith1722]

Fascinating to watch and fine craftsmanship. May I ask where you sourced the cone/spiderweb assembly?

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you. The cone/spider web assembly has been purchased online. (Granado.com) Thanks for watching

[@Rlnds4175]

👌

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks

[@renebourbeau1671]

I'll be fine

[@MacNeeb]

Nice to hear. Thanks for watching

[@jonnybeck6723]

You're a dangerous plunker Mr. Neeb ...so how'd you get it to sound so good and loud?

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks. Lucky I think

[@timesurfingalien]

Do all resonators have thick walls on the body? Does that make them heavy? Beautiful guitar dude!

[@MacNeeb]

No, absolutely not. This is entirely my idea. A cross between a resonator and a lap steel. It's a bit heavy, but it doesn't matter as I have it on my lap when I play. Thank you for watching.

[@adambox197]

Amazin😍

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you. Thanks for watching.

[@TicoPereiraMusic]

Awesome but the sides aren't too thick? The dobro wasn't too heavy?

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks. Yes, the body is quite thick but there are no problems with the weight.

[@TicoPereiraMusic]

@@MacNeeb is it possible make thickness using that metod?

[@kaybhee6]

groovy

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks.

[@Alex-Mouse]

Класс!

[@MacNeeb]

Спасибо за это.

[@Greenflag101]

How did you manage to make the round metal part ? (not shown in video)

[@MacNeeb]

The metal parts have been purchased. Thank you for watching.

[@DTGuitarTech]

Thanks for this. Really enjoyed this video. Did you install a truss rod? Or unnecessary?

[@topbreak38]

By the look of it, he did not. I think the beefy neck makes it unnecessary. Time may prove me wrong. Never know how the wood might warp but it still may not be a problem since the action is already high.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks for watching. There is no need for a truss rod in a square neck resonator. The neck is so thick and will stay stable.

[@DTGuitarTech]

@@MacNeeb ah ok. Thanks for replying. And I suppose, as well as the thick neck, you’ve also got the string height so no chance of fretting out etc.

[@dutchmiller704]

Where did you get the plans for this build?..

[@MacNeeb]

From my own head

[@gerarddelobre7744]

Bravo. Quel accordage est préconisé pour un résonator? Très cordialement.😊😊😊❤❤❤

[@MacNeeb]

Merci beaucoup. C'est une question de goût. Personnellement, je préfère open G ou open D.

[@kensargent3817]

Fabulous! Any relation to Claus Neeb?

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you. Yes, Claes Neeb was my desr older brother who unfortunately. I miss him. Thanks for watching

[@kennethclark080]

Belt sander dust extraction looks to be non existent by the plumes coming off!? Major health hazard I think?

[@MacNeeb]

I completely agree. Got too excited and didn`t think about it. Promis that I will take better care of my health for the next project.

[@user-zw9gf7jf8z]

Can you make one for me?

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks for watching. Where in the world do you live?

[@mfuller1093]

That thing must weigh a ton with those thick walls 😂

[@MacNeeb]

It weighs quite a bit more than a resonator, but not that much more than a lap steel.

[@willholly7526]

Are all dobros built like that? I mean enough lumber to shield a bomb shelter & heavy enough to give a gorilla a TBI. I was wondering about the truss rod but now I see that no truss rod on Earth would be able to tweak that neck if it did somehow manage to warp.

[@MacNeeb]

No, absolutely not. This is my idea. A crossover between a lap steel and a resonator guirar. Thanks for watching.

[@willholly7526]

@@MacNeeb I truly appreciate the prompt answer. Great work too.

[@MacNeeb]

@@willholly7526 Thanks alot

[@alanfbrookes9771]

Most commercial resonator guitars have thin, bent sides, like a regular guitar. Carved sides go back to the mediaeval cittern. I imagine that this instrument is heavy.

[@acdclexu6296]

why are the sides are so thick ? an the top ?

[@MacNeeb]

It just happend to become that wat. Thanks for watching

[@RamORam0]

hola amigo! please give me LOS PLANO , o las medidas EXACTAS !! jejejej gracias !

[@MacNeeb]

@@RamORam0 👍🏻😃

[@andrewgalloway7344]

solid little thing eh ? ... weight wouldnt matter on your lap thjough.

[@MacNeeb]

No, the weight doesn't matter when I'm going to sit with it on my lap to play and it doesn't weigh much more than a Dusenberg lap steel. Thanks for watching

[@coastwood]

Tom, lovely work. There aren't many build videos on KZbin for resonator stringed instruments. I know, I've looked! I think you have inspired me to give this a try. So far my own instrument 'family' consists of an F5 mandolin and a tenor banjo: www.youtube.com/@coastwood. Cheers, keep on building, filming, and playing!

[@MacNeeb]

Thank you for the nice feedback. Glad that I can inspire you. I definitely think you should give it a try. Good luck. Yes, I have several instrument building projects going on and the video camera will be with me all the way

[@iraleibowitz8021]

No fret wire?

[@MacNeeb]

No. Thanks for watching

[@alamaralaa]

Nice, but you installed your tuners upside-down.....

[@MacNeeb]

They have been changed for a while ago. It went a little too fast. Thanks for watching.

[@BeastOfSoda]

As someone ignorant on lap guitars, I'm confused by a number of details on this build: the way it's made, it doesn't look like it could be playable as a "normal" guitar (thick neck, very high nut and dot marker decals prone to being rubbed off). Not ragging, I'm just curious to know if this is common for these guitars or if the commercially available ones are designed with both uses in mind.

[@alanfbrookes9771]

Resonator guitars come in two types, round neck and square neck. The square neck type are only intended to be played with a metal bar. The round-neck type can, in theory, be played either way, but if you intend to play it with a bar you need a higher nut so that you don't rattle on the strings. For that, you buy a "nut raiser", but you have to take it off if you intend to play it like a guitar.

[@alanfbrookes9771]

You can turn any acoustic guitar into a slide guitar simply by fitting a nut raiser.

[@BeastOfSoda]

Makes perfect sense, thanks. I wasn't half sure if it was intentionally quirky, as I'm aware of musicians who play a resonator but aren't known for being lap steel players, so that had me wondering for a while.

[@MacNeeb]

This is a square neck resonator guitar. It is played like a lap steel. The strings are high and the fret board marks will not wear off. A round neck resonator, on the other hand, is played like a normal guitar. Thank you for watching

[@BeastOfSoda]

@@MacNeeb thanks for the insight, I can't help but be curious about these things. I also noticed that the side panels of the guitar are surprisingly thicker than what I imagined, definitely nothing like an acoustic where they're a couple of millimiters thick, if that: is this also par for the course? And how much does the finished item weigh? Sorry but I'm fascinated by this instrument, so familiar and yet so foreign.

[@OldMike1958]

OK. Nice work... but you buy the resonator syrtem. Come on man...

[@MacNeeb]

Yupp.

[@1958PI]

why don't you wear a mask to protect your lungs from the wood dust?

[@2010bigfathen]

He’s gonna cough up a 2X4 someday…

[@MacNeeb]

I can see what you mean, but it's not that bad. I'm usually good at using both a dust mask and hearing protection, but got a little overzealous this time. Thanks for watching.

[@elwooddebrot7128]

I *

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks for watching.

[@Oscar-po9rt]

'promo sm' 💦

[@MacNeeb]

🤟🏻

[@gregmarquis1886]

holy shit!!!!!!......I'm shocked that you still have all your fingers..........sorry, but I can't watch anymore......your stress me out with your fingers so close to the blades of the jointer

[@MacNeeb]

Take it easy. The fingers are still intact. Have a nice day

[@botwinjohn8695]

terrible job

[@MacNeeb]

That's your opinion. Thanks for watching

[@alanfbrookes9771]

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. It sounds okay.

[@aamapes]

Great project and sounds really good! The only thing I’d change is the way the tuners were put on - they normally go with the gears toward the bridge, so string tension holds the gears together, not apart. If they are working OK, not to worry.

[@voornaam3191]

You did not make it yourself. It was the nuclear power plant, or that huge lake and dam power plant nearby. All you did was switch on all your WHEEEEEEE machines and you had all your machines do their screaming job. I call that cheating. Please try building a guitar using HAND TOOLS only. I bet you like that better. Then you can be proud of your guitar. Now? Hmmm. It hurts watching your factory. Just my opinion, you are free to do it your way, right? And to be honest, making such a video requires skills, it takes time and experience. This is a good one.

[@MacNeeb]

Thanks for watching