[Frankenstrat2]

Is there a difference between a Dobro and a Resonator guitar?
I understand that Dobro is a brand name, as is National, etc, and that there are round neck and square necks.
But if someone is considered a 'dobro' player, rather than a 'slide player', what does that imply?
Does a Dobro player only play lap style, while a slide player is 'upright'?
But then what is the difference between a lap steel (not pedal) and a dobro player?
I just want to get my terminology straight.
Thanks.
Barry

[Kirk Lorange]

As far as I know:

Dobro is a brand.
National is a brand.
Resonator is a type of guitar.
Playing slide can mean any old way, whether lap or normal.
Being a 'Dobro player' probably means non-electric ...

Kirk

[Ricochet]

When I hear somebody's a "dobro player," I think he plays lap-style resonator guitar in country or bluegrass genres.

[Skibumdog]

8) Agree with the last 2 posts....
Although I recently purchased a Dobrolectric, which is like a thin line tele with a p-90 on neck and acoustic pickup on bridge. So when I play that I guess I'm a plugged in Dobro player....
Never mind.
Have fun and keep slidin"
Skibumdog

[Frankenstrat2]

I'm coming to the conclusion that Dobro indicated that the instrument is played horizontally while Resonator is played vertically. And Dobro seems to indicate quite often a square neck, although not always.
The confusion seems to be that Dobro is a brand name of a guitar which can be square neck or round, played lap style flat or upright.
But a 'Dobro player' seems to indicate someone who plays square neck, lap style flat, a la Jerry Douglas. A 'slide player' is thought of as always playing round necks upright.