Gold Tone GRS/L Paul Beard Metal Body Resonator Guitar with Pickup (Left-Handed)

If you’re a left-handed player who’s been searching for a real resonator guitar — not a compromise, not a special-order nightmare — the Gold Tone GRS/L is built for you. This is the left-handed version of the GRS, Gold Tone’s collaboration with master resonator builder Paul Beard, and it brings everything that makes the right-handed model special to players who fret with their right hand. The steel body and biscuit-style cone combine to produce that classic, cutting resonator tone: rich in the midrange, punchy on attack, with a natural projection that fills a room without any amplification at all. Whether you’re playing Delta blues slide, old-time Dobro-influenced bluegrass, or just want a guitar with serious character and presence, this instrument delivers.

The construction details here tell the story of a guitar built with real care. The maple neck with rosewood fingerboard and 19 frets feels comfortable and stable, anchored by a two-way adjustable truss rod that keeps the neck in line through seasonal changes. Snowflake inlays give it a touch of classic Americana style, and the curly maple binding adds a refined visual contrast against the textured steel body. The Paul Beard 6-string tailpiece is not a generic afterthought — Beard is one of the most respected names in resonator lutherie, and his tailpiece design contributes meaningfully to sustain and string break angle over that biscuit cone. Chrome hardware throughout keeps the aesthetic clean and traditional. A built-in lipstick pickup means you can plug straight into an amp or PA when the room demands it, making this a genuinely giggable instrument right out of the box.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. For a resonator guitar, that means checking and adjusting the cone seating, setting string action at the nut and bridge for comfortable playability, verifying intonation, inspecting fret ends and neck relief, and confirming that the lipstick pickup and output jack are functioning cleanly. That setup means this guitar arrives ready to play, not in need of a trip to a repair shop before it’s enjoyable.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means you’re buying a genuine instrument backed by Gold Tone’s manufacturer warranty with full dealer support from us. I’ve been in this industry for more than 45 years — I co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, I wrote Banjo Primer (consistently rated the number-one beginner banjo method), and I’ve co-designed instruments with Gold Tone myself, so when I stock a guitar like this I’m not guessing at its quality. I know these instruments. I also know how important it is for left-handed players to find instruments that are built for them rather than modified afterthoughts, which is exactly why we carry models like the GRS/L. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — all with no late fees — so you can bring home the instrument you actually want without waiting.

Gold Tone GRS/L Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this guitar truly built left-handed, or is it just a right-handed guitar restrung?

This is a purpose-built left-handed instrument. The GRS/L is constructed from the ground up as a left-handed guitar — the body, nut, and bracing orientation are all correct for left-handed playing. It is not simply a right-handed guitar with reversed strings, which would result in poor playability and incorrect string break angles over the biscuit cone.

What’s the difference between a biscuit cone and a spider cone resonator?

A biscuit-style resonator uses a small round wooden biscuit that sits directly on top of the aluminum cone and supports the bridge. It tends to produce a bright, focused, punchy tone that’s particularly well-suited to blues slide and old-time styles — that raw, woody-meets-metallic character. A spider bridge resonator uses a cast metal spider that spans the cone and distributes string vibration differently, generally producing a fuller, rounder sound associated with bluegrass Dobro playing. The GRS/L’s biscuit design gives it that authentic, gritty resonator voice.

Can I use this guitar for electric performances with the built-in pickup?

Yes, absolutely. The lipstick pickup on the GRS/L gives you a straightforward way to plug into an amplifier or a PA system for live performance. Lipstick pickups have a warm, slightly vintage character that works very well with resonator guitars — they capture the instrument’s natural voice without being overly bright or harsh. You’ll want to experiment with amp settings to find what works best for your style, but this guitar is genuinely stage-ready right out of the box.

Want to know when new banjos arrive? Join our email list: Sign up here.