Best Resonator Guitars 2026
Top-rated resonator guitars 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: February 11, 2026 • Next update: February 18, 2026
#1
⭐
4.8/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
National Reso-Phonic Style O Replicon 14fret
Slide Guitar
Country
Americana
Key Feature:
• Cuts through acoustic ensembles
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for slide guitar playing
- • Distinctive metallic resonator tone
✗ CONS
- • Requires different playing approach
- • Can be heavy and uncomfortable
National Reso-Phonic Style O Replicon 14fretResonator GuitarReplica Mark Knopfler model (Dire Straits / The Notting...
⭐
4.8/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 310463
$5,278
#2
⭐
4.7/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
National Reso-Phonic Raw Steel SingCone 14 Fr. LH
Folk
Blues
Bluegrass
Key Feature:
• Perfect for slide guitar playing
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for slide guitar playing
- • Great volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Can be heavy and uncomfortable
- • Requires different playing approach
National Reso-Phonic Raw Steel SingCone 14 Fr. LHResonator GuitarLeft-handed modelStyle: Round neckCone: Single...
⭐
4.7/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 614399
$3,629
#3
⭐
4.7/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
National Reso-Phonic Raw Steel Single Cone 12 Fret
Americana
Country
Bluegrass
Key Feature:
• Perfect for slide guitar playing
✓ PROS
- • Great volume and projection
- • Unique visual and sonic character
✗ CONS
- • Requires different playing approach
- • May not suit all musical styles
National Reso-Phonic Raw Steel Single Cone 12 FretResonator GuitarType: Roundneck with slotted headstock and flat cut...
⭐
4.7/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 519963
$3,738
#4
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Recording King RR-36-BK Black
Country
Blues
Bluegrass
Key Feature:
• Unique visual and sonic character
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive metallic resonator tone
- • Cuts through acoustic ensembles
✗ CONS
- • Very specialized sound
- • Requires different playing approach
Recording King RR-36-BK BlackRoundneck Resonator GuitarTop: MahoganyResonator: SpiderConeBack and sides: MahoganyNeck:...
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 553825
$439
#5
⭐
5.0/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Recording King RR-36S-VS Squarneck
Slide Guitar
Country
Bluegrass
Key Feature:
• Distinctive metallic resonator tone
✓ PROS
- • Unique visual and sonic character
- • Distinctive metallic resonator tone
✗ CONS
- • Can be heavy and uncomfortable
- • Requires different playing approach
Recording King RR-36S-VS SquarneckResonator GuitarDesign: SquareneckTop: mahoganyBody: mahoganyFretboard: padaukSaddle:...
⭐
5.0/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 534346
$435
#6
⭐
4.9/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Beard Guitars Trailhead E-Model CE Tobacco
Americana
Blues
Folk
Key Feature:
• Distinctive metallic resonator tone
✓ PROS
- • Cuts through acoustic ensembles
- • Unique visual and sonic character
✗ CONS
- • Can be heavy and uncomfortable
- • May not suit all musical styles
Beard Guitars Trailhead E-Model CE TobaccoResonator Guitar with PickupStyle: Round neckTop: Solid flamed mapleCone:...
⭐
4.9/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 605886
$5,719
#7
⭐
4.7/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
National Reso-Phonic Style O 14 Fret LH
Bluegrass
Blues
Country
Key Feature:
• Unique visual and sonic character
✓ PROS
- • Unique visual and sonic character
- • Great volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Requires different playing approach
- • Limited tonal versatility
National Reso-Phonic Style O 14 Fret LHResonator GuitarLeft-handed modelHandmade resonator: 24.1 cm...
⭐
4.7/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 614466
$5,168
#8
⭐
4.4/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Gretsch G9221 Bobtail Steel RN AE
by
Gretsch
Bluegrass
Americana
Blues
Key Feature:
• Perfect for slide guitar playing
✓ PROS
- • Great volume and projection
- • Distinctive metallic resonator tone
✗ CONS
- • Limited tonal versatility
- • Requires different playing approach
Gretsch G9221 Bobtail Steel Round-NeckResonator GuitarGretsch Roots CollectionGretsch Ampli-Sonic Spider Resonator...
⭐
4.4/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 427184
$1,099
#9
⭐
4.5/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Royall KOA12US Resonator Guitar
by
Royall
Slide Guitar
Folk
Americana
Key Feature:
• Cuts through acoustic ensembles
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for slide guitar playing
- • Unique visual and sonic character
✗ CONS
- • Can be heavy and uncomfortable
- • Limited tonal versatility
Royall KOA12US Resonator GuitarResonator GuitarBody: Koa with cutawayResonator type: Tricone T-bridgeCone...
⭐
4.5/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 578461
$1,099
#10
⭐
4.7/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Gretsch G9230 Bobtail Squareneck
by
Gretsch
Country
Bluegrass
Folk
Key Feature:
• Perfect for slide guitar playing
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive metallic resonator tone
- • Cuts through acoustic ensembles
✗ CONS
- • Very specialized sound
- • May not suit all musical styles
Gretsch G9230 Bobtail SquareneckResonator GuitarMahogany bodyMahogany neckSquareneckKatalox fretboardScale 635...
⭐
4.7/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 279667
$846
#11
⭐
4.9/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
National Reso-Phonic Estralita Deluxe
Americana
Blues
Country
Key Feature:
• Perfect for slide guitar playing
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for slide guitar playing
- • Distinctive metallic resonator tone
✗ CONS
- • Very specialized sound
- • Requires different playing approach
National Reso-Phonic Estralita DeluxeResonator GuitarLaminated grained maple topHandmade 9.5" (24.1 cm)...
⭐
4.9/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 261165
$4,728
#12
⭐
4.4/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
National Reso-Phonic NRP Rubbed Steel 12 Fret
Blues
Country
Americana
Key Feature:
• Distinctive metallic resonator tone
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive metallic resonator tone
- • Great volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Can be heavy and uncomfortable
- • Very specialized sound
National Reso-Phonic NRP RubbedResonator GuitarConstruction: RoundneckResonator: 9.5" Single ConeBack & sides:...
⭐
4.4/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 276776
$4,068
#13
⭐
4.9/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
National Reso-Phonic Raw Steel Single Cone 14 Fret
Blues
Country
Americana
Key Feature:
• Cuts through acoustic ensembles
✓ PROS
- • Unique visual and sonic character
- • Cuts through acoustic ensembles
✗ CONS
- • Requires different playing approach
- • Limited tonal versatility
National Reso-Phonic Raw Steel Single Cone 14 FretResonator GuitarType: Roundneck with solid headstock and rolled...
⭐
4.9/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 519976
$3,629
#14
⭐
4.8/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Royall CH12/BRS Chess 12
by
Royall
Folk
Country
Slide Guitar
Key Feature:
• Unique visual and sonic character
✓ PROS
- • Unique visual and sonic character
- • Perfect for slide guitar playing
✗ CONS
- • Very specialized sound
- • Requires different playing approach
Royall CH12/BRS Chess 12Resonator GuitarType: Tri Cone T-Bridge DesignBody: MahoganyResonator: 3 Handmade 6"...
⭐
4.8/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 516816
$934
#15
⭐
5.0/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Royall PB12/ANI Pony Boy
by
Royall
Slide Guitar
Blues
Americana
Key Feature:
• Distinctive metallic resonator tone
✓ PROS
- • Unique visual and sonic character
- • Distinctive metallic resonator tone
✗ CONS
- • Requires different playing approach
- • Can be heavy and uncomfortable
Royall PB12/ANI Pony BoySingle Cone Resonator GuitarBiscuit Bridge DesignBody: SteelNeck: MahoganyFretboard: Technical...
⭐
5.0/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 529667
$879
How to Choose the Best Resonator Guitars
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced resonator guitars typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
