In today’s article, we’re going to highlight some of the best resonator guitars available on the market right now. If you’re on the hunt for this kind of gear, don’t worry – we got you covered. Many guitarists tend to think that good resonator guitars cost a lot of money, but it’s not necessarily true.
The truth is that it’s totally possible to find a good resonator guitar at a reasonable price. Of course, the best resonator guitars in the world are really expensive, but there are quite a few cheaper alternatives that are worth checking out. So even if you’re on a tight budget, you should be able to find the right guitar for you.
The list below consists of some of the most recommended resonator instruments in the world. Feel free to check them out! In the next section, we’re going to have a close look at each of these models, so stay tuned.
Best Resonator Guitars – Top 10 List
| 1. | Gretsch G9210 Square Neck | See on Amazon |
| 2. | Dean Resonator Guitar | See on Amazon |
| 3. | Epiphone Dobro Hound Dog | See on Amazon |
| 4. | Gretsch G9201 Honey Dipper | See on Amazon |
| 5. | Recording King RR-41-VS | See on Amazon |
| 6. | Gretsch G9240 Alligator | See on Amazon |
| 7. | Recording King Squareneck Guitar | See on Amazon |
| 8. | Regal RC-51 | See on Amazon |
| 9. | Recording King Parlor Resonator | See on Amazon |
| 10. | Gretsch G9112 Resonator Ukulele | See on Amazon |
1. Gretsch G9210 Square Neck
One of the best and most popular Gretsch resonator guitars. If you’re not familiar with this brand, you should know that they are absolute leaders when it comes to hollow and semi-hollow electric guitars. What’s more, they also have a wide offer of resonator guitars which are also really good!
The guitar features a laminated mahogany body and a mahogany neck with the pretty rare Padauk fingerboard. Thanks to these materials, the G9210 has a really nice, warm and resonant sound. Undoubtedly, it will be a great choice for both amateurs and more advanced resonator guitar players.
I highly recommend checking out the official demo below.
2. Dean Resonator Guitar
A really cool and affordable resonator guitar made by Dean. Similarly as Gretsch, this is a well known and reliable brand that manufactures all types of guitars. Although most of us associate Dean with rock and metal guitars, they actually create cool resonator guitars as well.
This specific model is really loud and resonant. Just like all the other guitars made of mahogany, it offers a really warm tone. To be honest, at this price level it will be difficult to find something better. Undoubtedly, it’s a great choice for all-level guitarists!
3. Epiphone Dobro Hound Dog
Another really solid and reputable resonator guitar made by the legendary American manufacturer of guitars – Epiphone. As a big fan of their electric guitars, I have to admit that I’m particularly impressed by their approach to resonator guitars too.
The guitar is made of a mix of maple and mahogany wood. In addition, it features a spider resonator, nickel plated hardware and radiused fingerboard which improves the overall comfortability and playing experience.
I highly recommend this guitar to anyone who wants to start their journey with resonator guitars – you won’t be disappointed!
4. Gretsch G9201 Honey Dipper
A really interesting model manufactured by Gretsch. The Honey Dipper is a bit different than the previous model – instead of wood, it features a bell brass body. As a result, the guitar is loud, resonant and heavy. It’s not a guitar for everyone, but if you’re convinced that this kind of sound is for you – this is one of the best guitars in the game.
The G9201 is built with a maximum precision. And out of my experience, the amount of all-steel guitars made with such high quality and attention to detail is very limited. Undoubtedly, the Honey Dipper is one of the best resonator guitars out there.
Here’s a short sound demo – feel free to check it out.
5. Recording King RR-41-VS
A beautiful and not overly expensive guitar made of mahogany. If you’re not familiar with this brand, you should know that they have a very long history of making this kind of guitars – they actually started out in 1930s.
This particular model follows the tradition and it’s made with an incredible precision. As a lover of vintage guitars, I have to admit that the RR-41-VS looks and sounds like a pre-World War instrument. Undoubtedly, this guitar will be a perfect choice for anyone who’s looking for a remarkable and affordable instrument.
6. Gretsch G9240 Alligator
As I mentioned earlier, Gretsch is a leader when it comes to hollow, semi-hollow and resonator guitars. The G9240 Alligator follows the tradition and it’s another example of a guitar that looks and sounds spectacular. I think that it’s comparable with much more expensive guitars from the higher shelf.
The Alligator has a round neck and it’s made of mahogany. You may think that it’s just another regular guitar, but trust me – it’s on another level in the guitar game. I highly recommend checking out how it sound on the official demo below.
7. Recording King Squareneck Guitar
Another really cool and affordable Squareneck guitar manufactured by Recording King. I don’t recommend square necks for beginners, but if you’re looking for a great guitar of this type and you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars, this is the way to go.
Similarly as most of models mentioned on today’s list, it features mahogany top, back and sides. As a result, it’s loud, resonant and warm sounding at the same time. The guitar cuts perfectly through the band mix so if you want to use a guitar for live performances, this model won’t disappoint you.
8. Regal RC-51
This model is significantly more expensive than some of the guitars on today’s list. Why? Well, it’s a high quality resonator guitar made of nickel-plated bell brass. The overall quality and attention to detail is remarkable in this case and it deserves a lot of recognition. Personally, I think that it’s one of the best guitars of this type available on the market right now.
The Regal RC-51 has a very authentic, vintage and resonant tone. In addition, it features a really nice mahogany neck that significantly improves the comfortability and overall playing experience. Certainly, it’s definitely worth every cent.
9. Recording King Parlor Resonator
A really cool parlor size resonator guitar. Similarly as the previous model, it has a nickel-plated bell brass body. I think it’s a great alternative if you’re looking for a little bit smaller instrument.
Nevertheless, this model is not that cheap either. Still, I think that it will be a great choice for both beginners and more intermediate guitar players. I highly recommend checking it out – you won’t be disappointed!
10. Gretsch G9112 Resonator Ukulele
Although it’s not exactly a guitar, I think it deserves to be a part of today’s list. This resonator ukulele will be perfect for players on a tight budget or with smaller fingers. It’s a much smaller instrument but at the same time, it’s really fun to play.
To be honest, Gretsch did a fantastic job with this model. It’s not expensive, it sounds great and it looks fantastic – who needs anything else? The G9112 has a really nice, clear and warm tone which will be perfect for a wide range of genres. In addition, it comes with a gig bag!
Here’s a quick sound demo.
What is a resonator guitar used for?
Most often it’s used for bluegrass, country, folk and blues music. Still, there are no limits when it comes to these guitars – you can experiment and use them for any kind of music you want.
Are resonator guitars hard to play?
The difficulty level is pretty much the same as with the acoustic or classical guitars. Bear in mind that there are two types of resonator guitars: while some of them have round necks, other ones have square necks. Undoubtedly, playing on a guitar with a square neck may be difficult for amateurs.
Can you play a resonator like a regular guitar?
Yes, you can play most of resonator guitars in the same way as you play on a regular guitar. Nevertheless, some models have square necks, which require using a slightly different body position and playing technique.
Is a resonator guitar worth it?
Absolutely! Resonator guitars are a great choice for both amateur and more advanced players. They are a really interesting option for people who like the vintage tones. If you’re that kind of person, you’re absolutely going to love it!
Are resonator guitars louder?
Yes, they are a bit louder and more resonant than regular guitars.
Summary
As you can see, there are a lot of interesting resonator guitars out there. Undoubtedly, all of the models listed above are perfect for guitarists who want to try playing on these unique instruments.
Which model would I choose? Well, I’m a massive fan of Gretsch, so I’d probably stick with one of their guitars. I always had a great experience with their guitars and I’m absolutely sure that the quality of their resonator guitars is one of the best on the market. Nevertheless, it’s still just my subjective choice – other guitar brands are also worth checking out.
Thanks for checking out today’s post. I hope that it was helpful! If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
