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Resonator guitars, also sometimes called "resophonic" guitars was invented by Dobro© in the 1920's in the United States. Guitars of this type are typically designed and manufactured by independent guitar makers and are were originally created to add a unique touch to bluegrass music. Although country musicians stopped using resonator guitars for quite a long time, current popular country stars have re-adopted them to add a warm and very "retro" feel evocative of blues and soul to their music.
The resophonic guitar is made with either a wooden or a metal body, which typically involve either brass or steel. The wooden instruments are good for music that requires a muted, deep guitar tone, while the brass and steel guitars provide a full and bright sound capable of sharp dynamic contrast. The strings of the resonator guitar are elevated off the neck and played with a bar, dubbed a "steel." Many resonator guitars are designed to be played horizontally on the lap. The round-necked instruments are played in the traditional Spanish style, either with or without the use of a slide.
Dobro©, the inventor of the instrument and now owned by the renowned Gibson guitar company is by far the most popular maker of resonator guitars. There are, however other makers of this type of guitar, including National Reso-Phonic, Dick Deneve and the Harlow company. All make resonator guitars in many different forms, including those made of wood and those made of brass or steel, and make both the lap-top, horizontally-played variety and those played in the traditional Spanish style. The brass-bodied instruments are the favorite models of resonator guitarists and provide a warm and dynamic sound perfect for tackling the sensitivity of country and blues songs.
Dobro© resophonic guitars are quite expensive on the whole, but the cheapest model available for just under $500. Prices of these instruments can top $6,000. Other brands of resonator guitars can be purchased for as little as $400. Source for purchase of Dobro© guitars in the United States can be found at the following link: Resonator guitars.
Guitarists that play resonator guitars, and in particular Dobro© instruments include Ben Harper of Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals and blues star B.J. Cole.
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