A truly singular piece of Dobro and Dopyera family history. This 1968 resonator guitar was personally built by Rudy and Emil Dopyera as a presentation instrument for Onya Novikoff, daughter of John Novikoff, the master tool‑and‑die maker who engineered the resonator dies used for this guitar.
This is the only guitar ever produced with these dies. The cone bears a distinct star mark, and the dies were later stolen from the Dobro workshop, ensuring no further instruments could be made from them. The engraving “CUSTOM FOR ONYA” is original to the build and confirms the guitar’s status as a true one‑of‑one.
The guitar has remained in the family since 1968 and has never been played.
One‑of‑a‑kind custom Dobro, built by Rudy & Emil Dopyera
Never played, preserved in family ownership since 1968
Headstock adapted from a Mosrite 6‑string “Bantar” neck in the Dopyera workshop
100% original construction and engraving
John Novikoff was a highly respected tool‑and‑die maker whose precision machining skills were sought after by the Dopyera brothers. He designed and built the resonator dies used for this guitar — dies that were later stolen, making this instrument the sole surviving example of their output.
This guitar has been preserved by the family for nearly six decades and has never been used as a musical instrument.
Body & Resonator: Custom Dobro build, hand‑assembled by Rudy and Emil
Cone: Novikoff‑engineered, star‑marked, one‑of‑one
Neck: Modified Mosrite “Bantar” 6‑string neck, adapted by the Dopyera shop
Engraving: Original factory engraving, not added later
Finish: Untouched, with natural aging consistent with long‑term storage
Included in the listing photos is one of Novikoff’s own precision machines: a multi‑fret cutter he designed to cut all frets simultaneously with perfect spacing and depth. This level of engineering reflects the same craftsmanship behind the resonator dies used for this guitar.
This instrument is not simply rare — it is historically irreplaceable. It represents the intersection of:
Dopyera family craftsmanship
A one‑time collaboration that can never be repeated
For Dobro collectors, resonator historians, and museum‑level curators, this is a true one‑of‑one artifact.