If you play left-handed and you’ve been searching for a resonator guitar that doesn’t compromise on tone or pedigree, the Gold Tone PBR-D/L is the instrument you’ve been waiting for. This is the left-handed version of Gold Tone’s Paul Beard Signature-Series Roundneck Resonator Guitar, and it carries every bit of the same DNA as its right-handed sibling — a beautifully voiced mahogany body and neck finished in a warm tobacco sunburst, and at its heart, a genuine US-made Beard cone, spider bridge, and Paul Beard’s celebrated “open” soundwell design. That combination produces the kind of tone that resonator players chase for years: a singing, sustaining sweetness with just enough metal brightness to cut through, perfectly suited to country blues, gospel, old-time, and fingerstyle slide work. Left-handed players deserve an instrument this good, and Gold Tone is one of the few builders who makes it available.
Paul Beard is one of the most respected names in resonator lutherie, and his collaboration with Gold Tone on this model is evident in every detail. The mahogany top, back, and sides give the PBR-D a warmer, woodier character than a metal-body resonator, while the cream ABS binding and high-gloss tobacco sunburst finish make it one of the most visually striking instruments in this price range. The rosewood fingerboard sits on a two-way adjustable truss rod mahogany neck with a 25″ scale and a 1-3/4″ ZeroGlide nut — a low-friction nut system that improves tuning stability and intonation noticeably over a standard bone or plastic nut. Sealed guitar-style tuners and chrome hardware complete a package that is built to be played seriously, not just displayed. The included Paul Beard 6-string tailpiece ties the whole resonator system together for optimal string tension and tone transfer into the cone.
Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. The setup covers neck relief, action at the spider bridge for comfortable playability whether you’re fingerpicking or running a slide, cone seating for optimal resonance, and overall string clarity across the full length of the fingerboard.
Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse
Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means you’re buying a genuine, warranty-backed instrument — not a grey-market or third-party resale. I’ve spent more than 45 years in this industry, from running Watch & Learn in Atlanta since the 1980s to writing Banjo Primer (still the top-rated beginner banjo method on the market) and co-designing the OB-Standard with Gold Tone. I’ve had relationships with Gold Tone and the broader fretted instrument world long enough to know which instruments over-deliver at their price point, and the PBR-D is genuinely one of them. You’re getting a playing experience that’s ready to go the moment it arrives at your door. We offer flexible financing so cost doesn’t have to be a barrier: PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans are all available — no late fees, no surprises.
Gold Tone PBR-D/L Specifications
| Model | PBR-D/L (Left-Handed) |
| Body Top | Mahogany |
| Back & Sides | Mahogany |
| Finish | Tobacco Sunburst / High Gloss |
| Binding | Cream ABS |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Frets | 19 |
| Inlay | Dot |
| Nut | 1-3/4″ ZeroGlide Nut |
| Truss Rod | Two-Way Adjustable |
| Scale Length | 25″ |
| Cone & Spider | Genuine US-Made Beard |
| Bridge | Maple with Ebony Insert |
| Tailpiece | Paul Beard 6-String |
| Hardware | Chrome Plated |
| Tuners | Sealed Guitar-Style |
| Headstock Buttons | Metal |
| Tuning | EADGBE (Standard) |
| String Gauge | .056w, .045w, .035w, .024w, .016, .012 |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs. |
| Case | Included |
| Handedness | Left-Handed |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Paul Beard open soundwell design different from a standard resonator?
Paul Beard’s open soundwell is engineered to allow more air movement around the resonator cone, which translates into a more open, sustaining tone with greater dynamic range. Compared to a traditional enclosed well, the Beard design tends to sound less compressed and more responsive to touch — something fingerstyle and slide players notice immediately. Combined with the genuine US-made Beard cone and spider bridge, it gives this guitar a tonal character that’s well above what you’d typically expect at this price point.
Is this guitar set up for slide playing, or can it also be played like a standard guitar?
The PBR-D is a roundneck resonator, which means the neck profile and action can accommodate both lap steel slide technique and conventional Spanish-style (seated/standing upright) fingerpicking or flatpicking. Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you, with the action set to a comfortable middle ground that works well for both approaches.
Why is the left-handed version sometimes harder to find, and is this a full left-handed instrument?
Yes — this is a fully reversed, purpose-built left-handed instrument, not a right-handed guitar with the strings flipped. The neck, body routing, cone orientation, and tailpiece are all configured for a left-handed player. Gold Tone is one of the few manufacturers at this level who consistently offers left-handed resonator models, which is one of the reasons we carry them. Availability can be limited, so if you’re seeing it in stock here, it’s worth acting on.
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