In 2001, the country of Slovakia created a stamp that pays tribute to the instrument maker John Dopyera. Instrument makers on stamps are very rare and I look for them whenever I have the chance. If you would like to see more, check out my post about the German violin maker Matthias Klotz or my post about the Belgian instrument builder Adolphe Sax. Instrument makers appear on stamps as a point of pride for a country. It is similar to celebrating a composer or a musician with a stamp. Only much more rare.
John Dopyera
John Dopyera was born into a family of ten siblings in Slovakia in 1893. Shortly after he was born, his family moved to the town of Dolná Krupá. His father Jozef was a miller, but also a skilled violin player. Jozef also built violins, making one with John when he was still a child. In 1908, sensing that Europe was on the brink of war, the Dopyera family moved to California.
John Dopyera started a music store in Los Angeles in the 1920s. He built and repaired fiddles, guitars and other stringed instruments. He even earned several patents for banjo improvements. Then in 1925, the musician and instrument innovator George Beauchamp asked Dopyera if he could build a louder guitar. Beauchamp was looking for an instrument that could balance with other instruments in a big band.
Resonator Guitar
Dopyera’s invention was a guitar with three aluminum cones, which he called resonators. The cones sit below the bridge in the guitar and created a much louder sound that a normal acoustic guitar. His invention is the resonator guitar. It has a rich and metallic sound. Originally, John and his brothers Rudy and Emil, along with other investors built the instruments in a company they called National String Instrument Corporation. After a few years, the three brothers left and began the Dobro company, combining the first two letters of their last name with the first three letters of the wort brothers. Dobro also means good in Slovak.
The resonator guitar is played as a slide guitar, with a metal bar in the players left hand. It is laid flat on the lap and produces a distinct sliding sound. It has become a favorite instrument in styles ranging from blues to country. The resonator guitar remains in use by musicians across genres.
While Dopyera is most famous for his resonator guitar, he also made contributions to the design of the early electric Spanish guitar. He also received patents for innovations to banjo, violin, and guitar, and bass designs.
The Stamp
Scott Number SK 382
The design for the stamp features one of the Dopyera brothers resonator guitars. Behind the guitar is a map of the United States with a handwritten musical score. The prolific Slovak stamp design Bohumil Sneider created the stamp. It was released on August 1, 2001.
In addition to the stamp, the country of Slovakia honors Dopyera and his invention in other ways. Every hear there is an annual Dobrofest in the city of Trnava. There is also a Dobro Hall of Fame located at the West Slovak Museum also in Trnava.
And here is a fun video featuring the resonator guitar. Enjoy!
