Gold Tone PBB Paul Beard Signature-Series Resonator Bass Guitar with Case

There is simply nothing else on the market quite like the Gold Tone PBB Paul Beard Signature-Series Resonator Bass Guitar. Wayne Rogers, Gold Tone’s president and the driving force behind the company’s “Folkternative” design philosophy, set out to give bass players a genuinely different voice — not a tweaked version of something familiar, but a wholly original instrument that opens up new sonic territory. The result is a resonator bass built around a genuine US-made Beard cone and spider bridge — the same components that go into Paul Beard’s hand-built guitars that sell for several times this price. That cone gives the PBB a warm, projecting, woody midrange character that no conventional electric or acoustic bass can quite replicate. Whether you’re playing Americana, old-time, bluegrass, folk, or anything in between, this instrument will turn heads and fill a room without a single watt of amplification — and when you do want to plug in, the onboard humbucking pickup with dedicated volume and tone controls has you covered.

The construction throughout reflects Gold Tone’s attention to real-world playability. The maple neck carries a comfortable 32″ medium scale that makes fretting easier on the hands than a full 34″ bass neck, and the rosewood fretboard is bound in white celluloid for a clean, finished look. The all-mahogany body is similarly bound in cream ABS, and all hardware is chrome-plated for durability and a cohesive aesthetic. The Paul Beard 4-string tailpiece, the sealed bass-style tuners, and the ZeroGlide nut all speak to instruments that are built to stay in tune and play comfortably night after night. The tobacco sunburst high-gloss finish is stunning in person. A hard shell case is included — this instrument is ready to travel the moment it arrives at your door.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. You won’t need to take this to a tech the moment it arrives; it plays the way it should right out of the case.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell is covered by Gold Tone’s full manufacturer warranty and backed by our own customer service. I’ve been in this industry for more than 45 years — I co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, I wrote Banjo Primer (the top-rated beginner banjo method on the market), and I co-designed the OB-Standard with Gold Tone — so when I say the PBB is something special, I mean it in the way someone says it after handling thousands of instruments, not in the way a catalog copywriter says it. We carry the Gold Tone line because we believe in it. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans with no late fees — so you can bring this instrument home today and work out the payments on a schedule that suits you.

Gold Tone PBB Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play the PBB through an amplifier, or is it acoustic only?

Both. The PBB is fully functional as an acoustic instrument — the Beard resonator cone projects well in small-to-medium acoustic settings without any amplification at all. But when you need more volume or want to plug into a PA or bass amp, the onboard humbucking pickup with volume and tone controls gives you a clean, warm electric signal. It’s a genuinely versatile instrument in that regard.

Why 32″ scale instead of the standard 34″?

The 32″ medium scale is a deliberate and welcome choice. It reduces string tension compared to a full 34″ scale bass, which makes fretting chords, playing extended passages, and just generally getting around the neck significantly more comfortable — especially if you’re coming from guitar or if you have smaller hands. Tone-wise, medium-scale basses tend to have a slightly rounder, warmer low end, which suits the resonator character of the PBB beautifully. Many players find they prefer medium scale once they’ve spent time on one.

Is the Paul Beard cone and spider bridge really the same quality as what’s in his expensive hand-built instruments?

Yes — Gold Tone is clear about this, and it’s one of the things that makes the PBB genuinely remarkable at this price point. Paul Beard is widely regarded as one of the top resophonic instrument makers in the world, and the cone and spider bridge he supplies for the PBB are US-made components from his own shop, not offshore approximations. That’s the heart of the instrument’s tone, and it’s the real thing.

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