The Dobrato
Resophonic Guitar
UNIQUE B-BENDER
VIBRATO SYSTEM
ACOUSTIC / ELECTRIC
Grammy Winning Design
Introducing our New Dobrato Design: Model #JLV87!
Model JLV87. This piece features a Spider Bridge producing a traditional “Dobro” tone. All mahogany construction (spruce top on natural finish), our unique B Bender / Vibrato System, a Schatten Pickup out of Canada, 14 frets to the body, 1 11/16 nut width, Beard Legend Cone, #14 Spider and a quality plush lined Hardshell case. Each instrument includes a personalized setup that suits your playing style! Instrument & case, $2500.00, shipping $75.00 in the U.S., international shipping based on location.
Bryan Sutton!! Very excited to add Bryan to our list of Dobrato Owners / Players! Bryan’s career spans decades and includes multiple Grammy’s & Guitarist Of The Year Awards. He’s performed and recorded with, to name a few, Ricky Skaggs & Hot Rize, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Billy Strings, Chris Thile & Punch Brothers, Bela Fleck, Dixie Chicks, and so many more.
Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead playing his Dobrato
2023 Top 10 Finalist!
Dobrato KV953FC
Rig Rundown of Features
Dobrato KV953FC, Jenny Hill vocals & Banjo.
Kent Viles, Dobrato.
Finely Crafted
The Dobrato is designed and hand-assembled by Kent Viles at Dobrato Resophonic Guitars in Gunnison, Colorado.
Rich Tone
The Dobrato has a beautiful, full-bodied, reverberate voice, combining the classic sound of a resophonic guitar with the B Bender / Vibrato tonal variations. In this unique build, the Dobrato retains its natural deep and rich acoustic tone when amplified.
Evelyn Roper, vocals. Kent Viles, Dobrato.
Evelyn Roper, vocals. Kent Viles, Dobrato.
Kent Viles, Dobrato
Pros Playing the Dobrato
Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Grammy Winner
David Hidalgo
Los Lobos
Dobrato Owners
Mike Campbell
Tom Petty
and the Heartbreakers
Bob Weir (Grateful Dead / Dead and Company)
Tom Petty & Mike Campbell
of the Heartbreakers
Jimmy Buffett (Owns Two)
Jason Isbell
Mac McAnally (Jimmy Buffett)
David Hidalgo (Los Lobos)
Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
Mike Gordon (Phish)
Tony Furtado
Brendan Benson
Michael Martin Murphey
Bryan Sutton
and many more…
How Does the Dobrato Produce Its Unique Sound?
The World’s First Acoustic/Electric, round neck Resophonic Guitar with our unique B Bender / Vibrato System built into the vibrato arm. Allows the B string to be pulled to C# using the Vibrato arm pulled, very simply, sideways.
Hand Assembled
Every Dobrato Resophonic Guitar is hand assembled by Kent Viles. All are signed and dated on my internal label.
Quality Materials
I incorporate high-quality bell brass for the body, Padauk fretboards, hand spun 9 1/2″ aluminum cones, ebony on maple saddles. All frets are leveled, polished, and fret ends rounded and smoothed taking care to produce close, comfortable action. Our unique B Bender / Vibrato’s are hand fabricated and I install the PRO-RES-BIS Biscuit pickup by Fishman. I use perfected resophonic guitar construction techniques paying special attention to setup and playability.
#Dobrato
See what Dobrato Owners are saying
Use hashtag #Dobrato on social media to show off your Dobrato. See photos, stories, and videos of real owners.
Listen to the Sound
I spent 5 years building prototype body shapes to achieve our signature rich tone. The sounds you create are limited only by your imagination. The Dobrato is a unique new “voice” for blues, country, fingerstyle, bluegrass, pedal steel effects, and jazz.
Dobrato Details
This is my original design, hand assembled at Dobrato Resophonic Guitars in Gunnison Co. Unique Resophonic, custom B Bender-Vibrato system, Acoustic / Electric, voiced fuller and deeper than most Reso’s. Explore pedal steel runs, add vibrato, create your own voicings! Some Dobrato performers include Jason Isbell (used on and received a Grammy for “If We Were Vampires”) Mike Campbell, Jimmy Buffett, Tom Petty, David Hidalgo, Mac McAnally, Billy Gibbons, many, many more. Includes fitted Boulder Alpine Bag. The Dobrato is a joy to play, I focus on very playable setups. Please call with any questions about the design.
Kent Viles, 970-641-2747.
How Does the Dobrato Play?
It is tuned and played like any guitar. All resophonic guitars have a fairly distinct tone, The sound is generated by an aluminum cone under the cover plate. Most are fairly metallic in tone, however, I spent a number of years building prototypes to get a richer, deeper tone from the instrument.
It sounds beautiful and suits many styles of music.
– Kent
Drop Us A Line
Contact Us
Dobrato Resophonic Guitars
243 N. Main Street
Gunnison, CO 81230
(970) 641-2747
Hours:
Monday – Friday, Hours Vary
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Dobrato Facebook
Marc Beeson is an Illinois native and 30-year Nashville veteran who signed to SMACKSongs in 2021. Beeson has had songs recorded by Sam Hunt, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Lady A, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Little Big Town, Willie Nelson, Reba McEntire, and Chicago, among others. He has won 12 ASCAP awards including both Country and Pop Song of the Year for his No. 1 hit "When She Cries” by Restless Heart.
