Gold Tone PBS-D Paul Beard Signature Squareneck Resonator Guitar with Case

If you play dobro on the left side, good instruments at this level are genuinely hard to find — which makes the Gold Tone PBS-D something worth paying attention to. This is the version of Gold Tone’s Paul Beard Signature squareneck resonator guitar, and it delivers the real thing: a genuine US-made Beard cone and spider bridge, a mahogany body and neck finished in a rich tobacco sunburst high gloss, and Paul Beard’s acclaimed “open” soundwell design that gives this instrument its characteristic bloom and projection. Whether you’re working through early Bashful Brother Oswald tunes or chasing the modern lap-steel fire of Rob Ickes, this guitar has the voice for it. Squareneck resonators are purpose-built for open-tuning slide work in your lap, and the PBS-D is tuned from the factory to open G (GBDGBD) — the standard dobro tuning that opens up everything from traditional bluegrass to country and beyond.

The mahogany back, sides, top, and neck give the PBS-D a warm but cutting mid-range tone that sits perfectly in a bluegrass ensemble mix. The rosewood fingerboard carries dot inlays across 19 frets, the nut is a 1-7/8″ ZeroGlide — a significant upgrade that dramatically reduces friction for smoother tuning stability — and the tuners are sealed guitar-style machines with metal buttons. The Paul Beard 6-string tailpiece is another detail that matters: Beard has been building and refining resonator hardware in the US for decades, and having his name on both the tailpiece and the cone is not just a marketing badge. It means the most acoustically critical components of this instrument come from one of the most respected voices in resonator lutherie. Chrome plated hardware, cream ABS binding, and a maple bridge with ebony insert round out a package that is rugged enough for honkytonk life but refined enough for the recording studio. At 5.5 lbs it’s a comfortable instrument to play for extended sessions, and a hard case is included — not a gig bag.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. The action is checked and adjusted for clean slide clearance in the open G tuning, the cone seating and spider fit are inspected, intonation and tuning machine function are verified, and the instrument is made genuinely playable before it leaves the building. A proper setup on a squareneck resonator makes an enormous difference, and this one gets done right every single time.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell comes with the full manufacturer warranty and the assurance that you’re buying a genuine, properly sourced instrument — not gray market or second-hand stock. The Gold Tone PBS-D is the real deal for dobro players. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4 and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans with no late fees, plus Afterpay — so you can get playing now and pay on your schedule.

Gold Tone PBS-D Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a squareneck resonator guitar and how is it different from a roundneck dobro?

A squareneck resonator guitar — often called a dobro in bluegrass contexts — has a squared-off neck profile that is specifically designed to be played flat on your lap with a metal bar (slide). Because the strings sit very high off the fretboard, squareneck instruments cannot be played in the standard guitar position. They are tuned to an open chord (in this case open G: GBDGBD) and played entirely with a slide, giving them that singing, steel-guitar voice you hear throughout bluegrass and country music. Roundneck resonators, by contrast, can be played in the standard guitar position and are more common in blues and old-time styles. If you want the classic dobro sound of bluegrass, the squareneck is the right choice.

Is this truly a instrument, or just a mirrored setup?

The Gold Tone PBS-D is a purpose-built model — not a right-handed guitar with the strings flipped. The body, neck, headstock, and all hardware are configured from the ground up for playing. For a squareneck resonator played in the lap, this means the bass strings are on the side closest to you when you hold it in the natural position. It’s an important distinction, and it’s why players specifically seek out the /L variant rather than trying to adapt a right-handed instrument.

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