Gold Tone PBS-8/L Paul Beard Signature Squareneck Resonator Guitar Left-Handed with Case

If you play dobro or lap steel seriously, you already know the name Paul Beard — and this is his signature instrument, now available in a left-handed configuration. The Gold Tone PBS-8/L is the left-handed version of the PBS-8, and it is every bit the workhorse its right-handed sibling is: a mahogany squareneck resonator guitar finished in a gorgeous tobacco sunburst high-gloss lacquer, loaded with a genuine US-made Beard resonator cone and spider bridge. That Beard hardware is the heart of this guitar. The open soundwell design Paul Beard perfected produces a full, warm, piano-like sustain with the cutting high-end presence that bluegrass and country players live for. This is not a budget resonator with an afterthought cone — this is the real thing, the same cone maker that supplies professional touring players, fitted at the Gold Tone factory and then fine-tuned here at Banjo Warehouse before it ever reaches your hands.

The mahogany body and neck give the PBS-8/L a warm, woody character underneath all that metallic resonator shimmer — a combination that makes chord work sound rich and single-note runs sound clear and defined. The rosewood fingerboard has 19 frets with simple dot inlays, keeping the aesthetic clean and classic. The 1-7/8″ ZeroGlide nut means the open strings intonate as cleanly as fretted ones — a meaningful detail for a squareneck instrument where open-string tunings like GBDGBD are doing a lot of the harmonic heavy lifting. Sealed guitar-style tuners, chrome hardware, a Paul Beard 6-string tailpiece, and cream ABS binding round out an instrument that looks and feels like it belongs on a professional stage, because it does. At 5.5 pounds with a 25″ scale length, it is comfortable to play for long sessions on a lap rest or in a professional setup. A hardshell case is included.

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 you are buying a genuine, warranty-backed instrument — not a gray-market or diverted unit. I have spent more than 45 years in this industry. 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’s team, so when I say I know these instruments well, I mean it at a production and design level — not just as a retailer. The PBS-8/L is a model I respect deeply because Paul Beard’s hardware is genuinely world-class, and Gold Tone’s decision to spec it with authentic US-made Beard components rather than domestic alternatives is exactly the kind of integrity that makes a production instrument worth buying. We offer flexible financing through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, and 24-month plans with no late fees, so you can get into this instrument on terms that work for your budget.

Gold Tone PBS-8/L Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Beard cone and spider bridge different from standard resonator hardware?

Paul Beard’s cones are hand-spun in the United States to tighter tolerances than most production resonator hardware. The result is a cone that seats more consistently, vibrates more evenly across its surface, and produces that characteristic singing sustain with a clear, glassy high end. Most production resonator guitars at this price point use imported cones; Gold Tone specifically chose to spec the PBS-8 with genuine US-made Beard hardware, which is a meaningful upgrade that you can hear immediately when you compare instruments side by side.

Is the left-handed version set up the same way as the right-handed PBS-8?

Yes. The PBS-8/L is a true mirror-image left-handed instrument — the nut, tuner placement, tailpiece, and string orientation are all configured for left-handed playing from the factory. Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. Left-handed players should not have to settle for a lesser setup experience, and here they do not.

Does the squareneck design mean I can only play this in lap style?

Yes — a squareneck resonator guitar is designed exclusively for lap or stand playing with a steel bar, not for conventional neck-in-hand playing. The square cross-section of the neck and the high action are intentional; they allow the strings to vibrate freely over the cone without fretting buzzing against the fingerboard. If you are looking for a resonator you can play in standard guitar position, you would want a roundneck model instead. But if dobro-style or Hawaiian lap steel playing is your goal, the squareneck configuration is the right choice.

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