The original resonator
guitar was developed during the early 20th century and in 1927, the
first instruments were manufactured under the brand name National. Resonator
guitar have a quality of sound quite unlike other guitars, and this is
achieved through the use of a resonator fitted at the top of the guitar, in the
middle. The resonator guitar, or resophonic guitar as it is occasionally
called, is an acoustic guitar that uses one or more metal cones (resonators) instead of the
traditional wooden soundboard.
Resonator guitar originally designed to be louder than a conventional acoustic guitar
in order to ensure that the instrument could be heard above the horns and
percussion instruments in dance orchestras. by cause of that, although the
metal resonator fitted into the top of a guitar creates a sound quality or
voice which is quite unique, its original purpose was not one of tone or
quality, but merely volume.
Resonator guitar can be divided into
two subcategories, these being square-necked guitars and round-necked guitars.
The former are designed to be played like a lap steel guitar (with a slide),
while the latter can be played as either a conventional classical guitar or as
a steel guitar. In addition to this division, there are also three main types
of resonator designs: the tricone, the single inverted cone, and the
spider-less single cone.
The resonator guitar is most often
played as a lap steel guitar, and the more common square necked version is
limited to this playing position. Square neck instruments are always set up
with the high action favored by steel guitar players, and tuned to a suitable
open tuning.
Although not as commonly
experienced, resonator guitar still have a special place, and their distinctive
sound is still very popular. They became prized for their distinctive sound,
however, and found life with several musical styles (most notably bluegrass and
also blues) well after electric
amplification solved the issue of inadequate guitar sound levels.
