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Looking for the best resonator guitars on the market today? Trying to find a great round neck resonator to add to your instrument collection?
While we’ve previously posted a list of the best dobros and square neck resonator guitars on the market, we’ve yet to compile a list of the round neck resonators. The round neck resonator guitar is a staple of the blues genre and there are a lot of great players out there. The instrument can be a huge amount of fun to play, and no sound quite matches what you can get out of this unique, resonant instrument.
If you’re ready to buy a resonator guitar, look no further. Below we’ll give you our list of the best round neck resonator guitars.
Top Round Neck Resonator Guitars – Quick View
| Image | Model | Summary | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Gold Tone Paul Beard Signature Series PBR Roundneck Resonator Guitar | A round neck resonator guitar that offers a high-quality build and a great sound, at a price. | Check Price on Amazon |  |  |
 | Gretsch G9200 Boxcar Round-Neck Natural Mahogany Guitar | A beautiful mahogany resonator guitar that offers an amazing value for the money you'll spend. | Check Price on Amazon | | |
 | Danelectro ’59 Acoustic-Electric Resonator Guitar | An acoustic-electric round neck resonator guitar that looks great and features quality craftsmanship. | Check Price on Amazon | ||
 | Gretsch G9201 Honey Dipper | This beautiful Gretsch resonator guitar features a nickel-plated brass body and a killer blues sound. | Check Price on Amazon | ||
 | Rogue Classic Spider Roundneck Resonator Guitar | This affordable round neck resonator plays well and offers a great sound. | Check Price on Amazon | | |
 | Pyle PGA48BR Resonator Guitar | This cheap resonator guitar offers a mix of price and quality that players will love. | Check Price on Amazon |
Difference Between Round Neck and Square Neck Resonator Guitars
There are different types of resonator guitars out there, so it’s important to understand this when getting ready to buy one for yourself. The two types are round neck and square neck resonators.
Unfortunately, if you don’t know about this instrument you might not know what the differences are yet. It can be hard to understand the answer to the round neck vs square neck dobro debate.
Before we list the best resonator guitars out there, we’ll give you a quick overview of the differences between these two types of resonator guitars.
Square Neck
With square neck resonators, you’ll be playing it on your lap similarly to a steel guitar. You’ll also always use a slide or a bar of some kind on the fretboard. The neck of these resonators is square and extra-wide, unlike a guitar.
As a side note, square neck resonators are often referred to as “dobros”, particularly in the bluegrass genre which is known for great players such as Jerry Douglas. If you’re in the market for a square neck resonator instead, you may want to check out our list of the best dobros now.
Round Neck
Most guitarists who switch to the resonator guitar will want to play a round-neck resonator guitar. These can be played just like a normal guitar and will be fretted with your fingers rather than with a bar or slide. However, just like a guitar, you can play it with a slide as well.
These resonators are good to use when strummed, picked, or with fingerpicking. This type is likely the better choice for anyone looking to play in the blues genre. While there are plenty of acoustic guitars out there that are great for the blues genre, many people prefer the sound of a quality resonator above all else.
Best Round Neck Resonator Guitars – REVIEWED
Ready to see our top picks? Here’s our list of the top round neck resonator guitars
1. Gold Tone Paul Beard Signature Series PBR Roundneck Resonator Guitar
The first resonator instrument on our list is the Gold Tone Paul Beard Signature Series PBR Round Neck Resonator Guitar. While it won’t come cheap, the quality and sound you’ll get from this instrument will be well worth it.
This Gold Tone instrument features a mahogany body along with a rosewood fretboard and was definitely built with quality in mind. The mahogany gives the instrument a great bit of depth and the tone is warm and has a lot of resonance.
The resonator guitar will also be set up by experienced luthiers in the USA, so you can rest assured that the instrument will be ready to go as soon as you get your hands on it. If you have the money to spend and want a quality instrument, you really can’t do much better than this one.
2. Gretsch G9200 Boxcar Round-Neck Natural Mahogany Guitar
The Gretsch Boxcar Round Neck Mahogany Resonator Guitar is the next product on our list and is one of the best dobro guitars out there. Not only is it a great resonator instrument, but it’s certainly the best resonator guitar for under $1000.
This well-made resonator guitar features a round neck design and has a mahogany body and neck. It also features a 25″ scale length and a rosewood fingerboard.
Considering its playability and the beautiful design and sound of this instrument, it really is a bargain. If you’re looking for the best resonator guitar for the money, you really can’t do much better than this one.
3. Danelectro ’59 Acoustic-Electric Resonator Guitar
Our next favorite round neck resonator guitar comes from Danelectro. The Danelectro ’59 Acoustic-Electric Resonator Guitar is a great vintage-style resonator that can be plugged in for extra volume.
This resonator has a smooth neck made of maple and a double-cutaway Shorthorn body. The guitar also has a Schatten piezo and a 56 Lipstick pickup.
This acoustic-electric resonator is very flexible and perfect for the blues. This round neck resonator is ideal for both fingerstyle performances and slides but would also be great for the blues.
Overall, this is a great round neck resonator guitar, and in our opinion, it’s the first one you should consider if you’re ready to own a great resonator guitar.
4. Gretsch G9201 Honey Dipper
The third resonator guitar on our list is the Gretsch Honey Dipper. Gretsch truly offers great value with this beautiful resonator guitar. The body is made of nickel-plated brass and simply looks amazing.
For anybody who loves the distinct sounds of these full metal resonators, this is one of the best money can buy. This sounds quite a bit different from typical wood-bodied resonator guitars.
Tone-wise, this instrument offers a great vintage sound that is clear and strong. The Gretsch Honey Dipper will offer plenty of volume for all of your performance or practice needs and is one of the best resonator guitars for the blues.
Overall, this is the best choice out there if you’re looking for a metal-body round neck resonator. For the money, you can’t do much better than this beautiful steel resonator guitar.
5. Rogue Classic Spider Roundneck Resonator Guitar
The next choice on our list is the Rogue Classic Spider Resonator.
For anyone looking for an affordable round neck resonator, the Rogue Classic Spider Resonator Guitar is the best option out there. It’s well worth the small amount of money you’ll pay for it. It may just be the best budget resonator guitar out there.
This cheap round-neck resonator plays pretty well and the sound is pretty decent too. This round neck resonator offers plenty of sustain and a fair bit of volume as well.
This instrument has a spruce top as well as a back and sides made of mahogany. This is a pretty basic instrument without much flair but is still a great option for beginners or anybody on a budget.
Overall, this may not be the best round neck resonator on the market today, but it is one of the best values you’re likely to find.
6. Pyle PGA48BR Resonator Guitar
The Pyle PGA48BR is the last choice on our list of the top resonator guitars.
Like the Rogue resonator mentioned above, this resonator is more on the basic side of things. This cheap resonator guitar offers a mix of price and quality that players will love. This is one of the best round neck resonators for beginners but would be great for anybody who is on a budget as well.
One great thing about this resonator is that it is acoustic-electric. The electronics are more than adequate and come with a 3-band EQ.
This Pyle instrument features a beautiful sunburst finish along with a laminated spruce top and mahogany back and sides. A few useful accessories are also included with this instrument.
Overall, this Pyle resonator guitar is well worth your consideration if you’re looking for a round neck resonator guitar.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the best resonator guitars, this list is a great place to start. Each of the above instruments offers a great mix of quality and value and is great for both experienced players and beginners alike.
Want to make the most out of your resonator guitar? Click here to learn about the best alternate tunings you should try using on your guitar.
Hi, I’m Harrison! I created this website to help musicians navigate the ins and outs of their craft and to help them choose new instruments and gear to add to their collection. I have 15 years of experience as a guitarist and singer and have also played many other instruments throughout the years including the bass guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica.