Gold Tone GRS Paul Beard Metal Body Resonator Guitar with Lipstick Pickup

There is something about a metal-body resonator guitar that gets to the root of American music in a way that nothing else quite does. The Gold Tone GRS is built around that idea. Its steel body pairs with a biscuit-style cone and spider to generate the kind of rich, punchy projection that carries across a noisy jam session or fills a small venue without a PA. The Paul Beard 6-string tailpiece — named for one of the most respected names in resonator lutherie — anchors the strings with authority and contributes directly to sustain and tone transfer. Whether you are digging into Delta blues slide work in open D, picking through a bluegrass tune in standard tuning, or exploring anywhere in between, the GRS handles it all. The built-in lipstick pickup means you are never locked out of an amplified setting, and with a 25-inch scale length and a comfortable 1-3/4-inch nut width, the neck feels familiar to anyone coming from a standard acoustic or electric guitar background.

The maple neck is fitted with a rosewood fingerboard, 19 frets, and snowflake inlays that give the instrument a classic resonator aesthetic. The curly maple binding on that steel body is a lovely detail — it softens the industrial look of the metal just enough to make this guitar feel like a crafted instrument rather than a machine part. The two-way adjustable truss rod means the neck can be dialed in precisely for different string gauges or seasonal changes in humidity, which matters more on a resonator than most players realize because the steel body does not absorb moisture the way wood does. Chrome-plated hardware, sealed guitar-style tuners, and a textured finish round out a package that is built to last and designed to be played hard. At around nine pounds it is a solid guitar, but that mass contributes to the sustain and resonance you are buying it for.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every GRS we sell comes with the full manufacturer warranty and the peace of mind that goes with buying from a legitimate, accountable source. I have been working with fretted instruments for more than 45 years — I co-own Watch and Learn in Atlanta, I wrote Banjo Primer which has become the top-rated beginner banjo method on the market, and I co-designed the OB-Standard with Gold Tone — so when I carry a Gold Tone instrument I am vouching for it personally, not just listing it. We are based in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and we are here to answer questions before and after the sale. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans with no late fees, so you can get the instrument you actually want without waiting.

Gold Tone GRS Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Gold Tone GRS good for slide guitar?

Absolutely. The biscuit-cone design the GRS uses is the traditional resonator setup for slide playing — it produces a bright, cutting tone with strong midrange presence that carries well under a slide. The 25-inch scale gives you good string tension in standard tuning, and many players also drop to open D or open G for slide work without any issues. The lipstick pickup means you can also plug into a small amp or a DI box for amplified slide playing on stage.

Does the GRS come with a case or bag?

The GRS ships as a guitar-only instrument. Gold Tone offers an optional heavy-duty gig bag (HBAG) and an optional hardshell case (HDRD-M) that are designed to fit the GRS’s thin steel body. If you would like to add either of those at checkout, just reach out to us and we can put together a bundle. We always recommend at minimum the gig bag for a metal-body guitar — the textured steel finish holds up well, but having a padded bag makes transport much more practical.

What is the difference between a biscuit-cone resonator and a spider-cone resonator?

A biscuit-cone resonator uses a single cone with a small wooden biscuit bridge sitting directly on the apex of the cone. The bridge saddle rests on that biscuit, and the vibration transfers through a single contact point. This design tends to produce a warmer, more focused tone with a lot of sustain — it is the classic setup for blues and slide styles. A spider-cone resonator (like a Dobro-style guitar) uses a different cone orientation with an eight-legged metal spider sitting inside the cone, and it typically produces a brighter, more open sound favored in bluegrass. The GRS uses the biscuit design, which is part of why it has that earthy, resonant character.

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