Best Resonator Guitars of 2025
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Resonator guitars are a type of acoustic guitar that produce a distinctive sound through a metal resonator cone mounted inside the body. These guitars were first developed in the 1920s and became popular in blues, bluegrass, and country music. Resonator guitars are known for their loud and clear projection, making them ideal for performances in large venues. They come in a variety of styles and designs, including round-neck and square-neck models. Resonator guitars are recommended for musicians who want to add a unique and powerful sound to their performances.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
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Top 10 Resonator Guitars
The Feather Tricone Metal Body Guitar Pickup
The Feather Guitar Pickup by Myers Pickups is an incredibly lightweight and compact solution for amplifying your instrument's natural tone. With its active preamp, you will enjoy rich sound quality that brings out the best in your music. This pickup is ready to use straight out of the box, making it easy for you to transform your instrument into an acoustic/electric one. Plus, the included mounting hardware means you can attach it without any permanent modifications, allowing for a hassle-free experience.
Goldtone Paul Beard PBR Resonator Guitar Model
The Goldtone PBR Resonator Guitar is an excellent choice for musicians seeking a high-quality instrument. This model is designed specifically for resonator guitar enthusiasts, offering a unique sound that is perfect for both playing and performing. With its durable construction, you can rely on it for long-lasting use, making it a great investment. Additionally, the brand Goldtone is known for its craftsmanship, ensuring that you receive a product that not only looks good but also sounds fantastic.
Recording King RM-991 Nickel-Plated Resonator
The Recording King RM-991 is a beautifully crafted resonator guitar featuring a stunning nickel-plated bell brass body. This not only enhances its appearance but also contributes to a rich, resonant sound. The Honduran mahogany neck provides excellent playability, ensuring comfort during long sessions. With three hand-spun Continental cones, you can enjoy a vibrant tone that stands out, whether you’re playing in a band or solo. The rosewood fretboard adds a smooth feel, making it easier for you to navigate chords and melodies.
Epiphone Dobro Hound Dog Resonator Guitar
The Epiphone Resonator Guitar features an open soundwell design, which enhances tone balance, ensuring you enjoy a rich sound. The spider resonator further amplifies the guitar's acoustic capabilities, making it ideal for folk and blues music. Its nickel plated hardware and fan pattern coverplate not only look stylish but also provide durability. Additionally, the radiused fingerboard offers ease of play, allowing you to effortlessly navigate the fretboard for a more enjoyable experience.
Myers Pickups Dobro Resonator Guitar Pickup
The Myers Pickups Resonator Pickup features a flexible micro-gooseneck that captures the natural sound of your instrument, allowing you to enjoy its authentic tone. With the versatile Myers pickups, you can easily plug in and play, transforming your instrument into an acoustic/electric version. The internally powered active preamp enhances sound richness, ensuring you get the best audio quality. Furthermore, the package includes all necessary hardware for multiple mounting options, offering you flexibility and convenience in setup.
Myers Pickups Vintage Resonator Guitar Pickup
The Myers Pickups Resonator Pickup is a versatile and compact solution for enhancing your musical experience. It features a flexible micro-gooseneck that captures the natural sound of your instrument, ensuring authenticity in every note. With its internally powered active preamp, you can expect rich sound quality, bringing out the best in your playing. This all-in-one pickup is complete with all hardware needed for multiple mounting options, allowing you to easily transform your instrument into an acoustic/electric one with volume control.
Fender Paramount PR-180E Resonator Guitar Aged Cognac Burst
The Fender Paramount PR-180E is a stunning resonator guitar designed for both style and sound. With its careful workmanship, you can enjoy a high-quality instrument that feels great in your hands. The use of selected materials ensures durability and a rich tone, enhancing your playing experience. This guitar is perfect for those who appreciate the balance of tradition and modern craftsmanship, making it a joy to play for any music lover.
Gretsch G9201 Honey Dipper Resonator Guitar
The Gretsch G9201 Resonator is a beautifully crafted instrument that combines careful workmanship with selected materials. This resonator guitar is designed for musicians who appreciate quality and sound. With its unique Dobro style, you can expect rich tones that enhance your playing experience. The instrument is ideal for various string instruments and guitars, providing versatility for different musical styles. Your satisfaction is paramount, ensuring that the Gretsch G9201 Resonator meets your expectations.
Gretsch G9240 Alligator Biscuit Resonator Guitar
The Gretsch G9240 Resonator Guitar features a single cone resonator that enhances sound projection, making it ideal for both solo performances and accompanying other instruments. Its biscuit bridge provides superior tuning stability, allowing you to play confidently without constant adjustments. The mahogany roundneck offers a comfortable grip, ensuring ease of play for extended periods. The attractive sunburst finish not only looks striking but also adds to the overall character of the guitar, appealing to both novice and experienced players alike.
Gretsch G9241 Alligator Electro-Resonator Guitar
The Gretsch G9241 Resonator offers a unique blend of craftsmanship and quality materials, making it a great choice for musicians. As a dobro, it delivers rich, resonant tones that enhance your playing experience, especially for bluegrass and folk styles. Its versatility allows you to explore different string instruments with ease, while the guitar’s balanced design ensures comfort during long practice sessions. With a focus on user satisfaction, this instrument is crafted to meet the needs of both beginners and seasoned players.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is a resonator guitar good for?
Resonator guitars are popularly used in bluegrass music and in blues. Traditionally, bluegrass players used square necked Dobro-style instruments played as a steel guitar while blues players favored round-necked National-style guitars, often played with a bottleneck.
2. Are resonator guitars hard to play?
It is an easy instrument to learn Moreover, once you get started and master the basic techniques of the resonator guitar, then it will be much easier for you to transition to other stringed instruments, as well as experiment with many other genres of music.
3. Can you play a resonator like a regular guitar?
Listen to as many different resonator players as you can and play as many guitars as you can. Single cone, tricone, spider bridge or biscuit bridge, wood body or metal body, square neck or round neck. It's all a matter of personal taste and playing style.
4. What is the difference between a regular guitar and a resonator guitar?
Where an acoustic guitar amplifies the vibrations of the strings through their contact with the wooden soundboard or top via the bridge, a resonator instead amplifies the strings through the use of one or more metal coils which are in contact with the underside of the bridge.
During our resonator guitar research, we found 14 resonator guitar products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 3,214 customer reviews through our big data system to write the resonator guitars list. We found that most customers choose resonator guitars with an average price of £641.48.
The resonator guitars are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of resonator guitars, including Myers Pickups, Goldtone, Recording King, Epiphone, Fender. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 115 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.
Hayden was born in Liverpool, and he never left his hometown until university. In his freshman year at the University of Manchester, Hayden was the group leader of a popular music group. Hayden is responsible for the popularity of his music, and this is because of his natural ability to play with keys and strings. He graduated with BFA in 2016 and returned in 2018 as a lecturing staff in the School of Music.