Have you always been attracted to the powerful, singular sound and unique looks of a resonator guitar? Then you've come to the right place. At Bax Music, you can find anything and everything from budget models to professional resonators.
The Resonator Guitar
The bridge of a resonator guitar is mounted on a metal cone, which shape the masses of volume and that famed sound the instrument is known for. Back in the 1920s, resonators were the logical result of the development of the acoustic steel-string guitar, which wasn't loud enough to come out on top of the rhythm and brass sections in big bands and couldn't be amplified because the electric guitar had yet to be invented. For a deeper dive into its history, check out our 'The Resonator (or Dobro) Guitar: An Introduction' blog.
Playing a Tricone, Spider or Biscuit Resonator Guitar
Not all resonator guitars come fitted with the same kind of cone. While various different models have been developed throughout the history of the instrument, guitarists essentially have the pick of three different classic cone types that most other cones are based on. In 1927, the National String Instrument Corporation presented the first Tricone resonator equipped with a T-shaped bridge and three aluminium cones. A couple of years later, John Dopyera and his brothers, all of whom had previously worked at National, presented the first Spider model under the Dobro name, which came with a spider-like bridge and a single inverted cone. National's answer was the Biscuit resonator, their own take on a single-resonator model. These days, Dobro and National are the most widely known brands in the world of resonator guitars.
Buying a Round Neck or Square Neck Dobro
In terms of neck profiles, resonator guitars come in two flavours: a round neck or a square neck. Square-neck models can be played much like a lapsteel guitar, so the body is laid across your lap, while round-neck resonators are played like a regular acoustic guitar.
What's a Steel Guitar?
There are a number of guitars referred to as a 'steel guitar', one of which is the square-neck resonator guitar we just mentioned. The pedal-steel guitar, the lap steel (or Hawaiian) guitar and the bottleneck guitar are part of the same category. Also, many people believe that 'steel guitar' refers to the (partly) metal body of resonator guitars while, in fact, 'steel' refers to the tone bar guitarists use to shape that familiar slide sound. These guitar slides are usually made of steel which is why they're commonly called 'steels'.
Acoustic Dobro Guitar Accessories
Without a trusty slide, you're never going to be able to pull those rootsy and bluesy slide-parts out of your resonator guitar. Also, if you're not a fan of fingerpicking or playing with your nails, it can be worth grabbing a thumb plectrum and a few finger-picks, which you can find as part of our extensive range of plectrums.
Frequently Asked Questions About Resonator Guitars
How does the resonator work?
The string vibration passes through the bridge and then to one or more metal cones mounted on the body of the resonator guitar, resulting in a lot more volume when compared to a standard acoustic guitar.
What are resonator strings?
Beginning guitarists might be inclined to put acoustic guitar strings on their resonator, so it's worth noting that there are special resonator guitar strings. These strings are a little thicker and pack a higher string tension which is ideal for slide-based playing techniques.
