ORIGINAL MUSIC INSTRUMENT COMPANY, INC (OMI)

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.