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 ORIGINAL MUSIC INSTRUMENT COMPANY, INC (OMI) | | Instruments currently produced in Nashville, TN (previous production was located in Long Beach, CA through December, 1996). Distributed by Gibson Guitar Corporation of Nashville, TN. | | In 1960, Emil Dopyera and brothers Rudy and John founded the Original Music Instrument company to build resonator guitars. They soon resumed production on models based on their wood-body Dobros. In the late 1960s, OMI also began production of metal-bodied resonators roughly similar to their old National designs. Ron Lazar, a Dopyera nephew, took over the business in the early 1970s. In 1993, OMI was sold to the Gibson Guitar Corporation, and in 1997/1998 production moved to Nashville, TN. For further information on OMI/Dobro, see current model listings under Dobro. Early company history courtesy Bob Brozman, The History and Artistry of National Resonator Instruments. | |
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