If you’ve spent any time chasing that elusive resonator tone — the one that sits right at the crossroads of warm mahogany sweetness and bright metallic shimmer — you already know the name Paul Beard. The Gold Tone PBR/L is the left-handed version of the Paul Beard Signature-Series Roundneck Resonator Guitar, and it’s one of the most carefully voiced roundneck resophonics I’ve come across at this price point. At the heart of the instrument is Paul Beard’s signature “open” soundwell design paired with a genuine US-made Beard resonator cone and spider bridge — the same components that have made Beard instruments the gold standard in resonator building for decades. The result is a tone that blooms: rich, woody lows from the mahogany body and neck, crystalline highs from the cone, and a midrange complexity that makes fingerpicked country blues lines simply come alive. This is a guitar built for players who take their tone seriously, whether you’re exploring Robert Johnson territory, working through Delta slide, or pushing into contemporary fingerstyle arrangements.
The mahogany body and neck are finished in a gorgeous high-gloss tobacco sunburst — the kind of vintage-inspired look that feels right at home on a resonator. The rosewood fingerboard carries dot inlays across 19 frets, and the 25″ scale length gives you the tension and snap that resonator playing demands. Gold Tone fitted the headstock with sealed guitar-style tuners with metal buttons for smooth, reliable tuning stability, and the 1-3/4″ ZeroGlide nut keeps open strings ringing with the same clarity as fretted notes — a small detail that matters enormously when you’re playing slide or fingerpicking in open tunings. The two-way adjustable truss rod means the neck can be dialed in precisely, and cream ABS binding gives the whole package a clean, polished look. The Paul Beard 6-string tailpiece completes the picture. This is not a wallflower instrument; it’s a working musician’s tool with serious pedigree behind every component choice. And yes — this is specifically the left-handed model, flipped and strung for left-hand players right from the Gold Tone factory.
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 instrument we sell comes with the full manufacturer’s warranty and the backing of a real relationship with the Gold Tone team. I’ve been in the stringed instrument business for over 45 years — I co-owned Watch & Learn in Atlanta starting in the 1980s, wrote Banjo Primer (still the top-rated beginner banjo method around), and co-designed the Gold Tone OB-Standard. I’ve handled a lot of instruments over the decades, and I’m selective about what we stock. The PBR/L earned its place here because it genuinely delivers. We also make it easy to get the instrument in your hands: financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and longer-term 3, 6, 12, and 24-month plans — no late fees. If you have questions before you buy, reach out. I’m happy to talk resonators.
Gold Tone PBR/L Specifications
| Model | PBR/L (Left-Handed) |
| Body Top | Mahogany |
| Back & Sides | Mahogany |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Frets | 19 |
| Inlay | Dot |
| Scale Length | 25″ |
| Nut Width | 1-3/4″ ZeroGlide Nut |
| Truss Rod | Two-Way Adjustable |
| Tuners | Sealed Guitar-Style |
| Headstock Buttons | Metal |
| Cone & Spider | Genuine US-Made Beard |
| Bridge | Maple with Ebony Insert |
| Tailpiece | Paul Beard 6-String |
| Binding | Cream ABS |
| Finish | Tobacco Sunburst / High Gloss |
| Hardware | Chrome Plated |
| String Gauge | .056w, .045w, .035w, .024w, .016, .012 |
| Tuning | EADGBE |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs. |
| Case | Hardshell Case Included |
| Handedness | Left-Handed |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Paul Beard cone and soundwell design different from a standard resonator?
Paul Beard’s open soundwell design changes the way air moves inside the body relative to a conventional resonator build, which contributes to a more open, sustaining tone with better wood-to-cone balance. Combined with his US-made cone — which is held to tighter tolerances than most import cones — the result is a resonator that sounds more alive and responsive across the full dynamic range, from a whispered fingerpick to a full-throated slide run. It’s a meaningful difference you can hear immediately.
Is the left-handed version identical to the right-handed PBR in every other respect?
Yes. The PBR/L is the factory left-handed version produced by Gold Tone, meaning the neck, body, resonator assembly, nut, and tailpiece are all correctly configured for left-hand playing — this is not a restrung right-handed guitar. Every specification, including the Beard cone, mahogany construction, ZeroGlide nut, and tobacco sunburst finish, is identical to the right-handed model. The professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida is performed with left-hand playability in mind from start to finish.
Does this guitar come with a case?
Yes, a hardshell case is included with the Gold Tone PBR/L. A resonator guitar with a genuine Beard cone deserves real protection, and Gold Tone includes a proper case — not just a gig bag — with this model.
Want to know when new banjos arrive? Join our email list: Sign up here.







































