How does a resonator guitar work?

Resonator guitars have a steel cone in the middle of the guitar which acts as a speaker, giving more volume and projection to your playing. Resonators were created before electric amplification and were designed for guitar players to be heard over loud bars. In using a steel cone, the tone also changes drastically from a typical wooden acoustic guitar. Resonators have a distinctive mid-range sound which lends itself beautifully to finger picking and slide playing.

Can you play a resonator guitar like an acoustic?

There are two types of resonator guitars: square neck and round necks. You can absolutely play a round neck resonator like an acoustic guitar although it definitely sounds better fingerpicked rather than strummed. Square neck resonators, however, are designed for playing like a lap steel using a tonebar.

How can I amplify a resonator guitar?

Although you can install a pickup in a resonator guitar, it’s not that common to find factory made electroacoustic resonators. In most cases, a microphone pointing at the cone will be the best way to capture that unmistakable sound. This works both in the studio and on stage.