Best Acoustic Resonator Guitars of 2025

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Acoustic resonator guitars are a unique and distinct type of guitar that produce a distinct, metallic sound. These guitars are characterized by their cone-shaped resonator, which is made of metal and amplifies the sound produced by the strings. The result is a bright and powerful sound that is perfect for blues, bluegrass, and country music. While they may not be as popular as traditional acoustic guitars, acoustic resonator guitars are a favorite among musicians who want to add a unique sound to their music. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a beginner, an acoustic resonator guitar is a great addition to any collection.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Acoustic Resonator Guitars
Gretsch G9240 Alligator Resonator - 2-Color Sunburst
The Gretsch G9240 Alligator Resonator is an acoustic roundneck guitar with a mahogany top and sides, featuring a padauk fingerboard and an Eastern European H-spun biscuit cone in a 2-color sunburst design. This guitar is perfect for players who want a unique sound and are looking for an instrument that can handle a wide range of playing styles.
Gretsch G9241 Alligator Mahogany Resonator Guitar
The Gretsch G9241 Alligator Mahogany Round Neck Acoustic Electric Resonator Guitar features a Mahogany top and sides, a Padauk fingerboard, and an Eastern European hand-spun biscuit cone Fishman Electronics with a 2-color sunburst design. Its roundneck design makes it easy and comfortable for players to use. The resonator guitar produces a distinct and unique sound that is great for blues, country, and bluegrass music.
Recording King 6 String Resonator Guitar
The Recording King 6 String Resonator Guitar features a Bell Brass Body and European Recording King Handspun Resonator Cone that deliver a full and rich sound. Its Distressed Vintage Green color and Grover Open Gear Tuners provide an aesthetic appeal. This guitar is perfect for those who are looking for an Acoustic Resonator Guitar that captures the vintage vibe.
Recording King RPH-R1-TS Guitar
The Recording King Resonator Guitar features a classic single 0 body that provides a comfortable playing experience. Its spruce top enhances sound projection, ensuring your music resonates beautifully. The rosewood fretboard adds a smooth touch for easy playability, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced players. With a 9.5" resonator cone, this guitar delivers a bright and powerful tone that will captivate your audience. Each element is designed to elevate your performance, giving you the convenience and quality you need to express your musical style.
Recording King Resonator Guitar RPH-R2-E-MBL
The Recording King Resonator Guitar is designed for those who appreciate rich sound and classic aesthetics. Its pedestal-style soundwell enhances resonance, making every note clearer and more vibrant. The spruce top adds durability while contributing to a warm and balanced tone. The biscuit bridge helps maintain string tension, ensuring consistent playability. Additionally, the hand-spun European cone elevates the guitar's sound quality, providing a unique character to your music. With these features, you can expect a great playing experience that supports both beginners and seasoned players alike.
Epiphone Dobro Hound Dog Resonator
The Epiphone Resonator Guitar features a sturdy maple body and a smooth mahogany neck, providing a solid foundation for your music. The ebony saddle on the bridge rests on a maple base, delivering a rich and warm sound that enhances your playing experience. Thanks to the innovative Dobro cone, your notes will resonate beautifully, ensuring projects well in any setting. Additionally, the Pau Ferro fingerboard offers a comfortable surface for your fingers, making it easier to play for extended periods. This combination of features makes the Epiphone Resonator Guitar a fantastic choice for musicians seeking quality and performance.
Recording King RPH-R2-E-MBK Guitar
The Recording King Resonator Guitar is designed for players seeking rich sound and exceptional quality. Its pedestal-style soundwell enhances resonance, allowing for a fuller tone that captivates your audience. The spruce top contributes to a bright, clear sound, making it ideal for various genres. With a biscuit bridge, you’ll enjoy improved sustain and intonation, ensuring your music sounds its best. Additionally, the hand-spun European Recording King cone provides a unique character and projection that stands out. These features come together to offer you a versatile instrument that elevates your playing experience.
Gretsch G9210 Square Neck Boxcar Mahogany Resonator Acoustic Guitar
The Gretsch G9210 Square Neck Boxcar Mahogany Resonator Acoustic Guitar is an acoustic squareneck resonator guitar with a mahogany top, sides, neck, and padauk fingerboard. The guitar also features a hand-spun cone, which produces a unique and resonant sound. This guitar is perfect for those looking for a high-quality resonator guitar to add to their collection.
Regal RC-1 Polychrome Guitar
The Regal Polychrome Guitar is a stunning acoustic resonator guitar that combines vintage design with modern features. With its Duolian-style body and slim, comfortable neck, this guitar offers a great playing experience. The 9 1/2" spun resonator cone with biscuit bridge delivers a rich and resonant tone, perfect for blues, country, and slide guitar playing. The rosewood fingerboard with M.O.P. dot position markers provides excellent playability and precise fretting. The rock maple saddle and bone nut ensure optimal string vibration transfer, resulting in enhanced sustain and tone. The nickel-plated hardware, adjustable truss rod, and die-cast tuning machines offer easy tuning and stability. With its steel body and beautiful gun-metal gray polychrome finish, the Regal Polychrome Guitar is not only a joy to play but also a visually striking instrument.
Ortega Americana Series Resonator Guitar
The Ortega Resonator Guitar features a mahogany top with unique offset soundholes, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and sound projection. The distressed black satin finish adds a vintage charm that stands out on stage or in your living room. With its durable aluminum cone resonator, you can expect rich tones and improved volume, making it ideal for both solo performances and jam sessions. The comfortable mahogany neck ensures easy playability, allowing you to focus on your music without straining your hands.
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. What is the difference between a resonator and an acoustic 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.
3. 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.
During our acoustic resonator guitar research, we found 24 acoustic resonator guitar products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 3,868 customer reviews through our big data system to write the acoustic resonator guitars list. We found that most customers choose acoustic resonator guitars with an average price of $544.21.
The acoustic resonator guitars are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of acoustic resonator guitars, including Gretsch, Recording King, Epiphone, Regal, Ortega Guitars. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 540 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Nicole Kim has been a music teacher and a private piano instructor for six years now. She is a very talented musician who plays piano to a high standard and won several awards in international piano competitions. Lately, she has been sharing her music expertise online, giving incredible tips on how to select the right musical instruments.