Resonator Guitars
Not taking Resonator Guitar Orders for 2023
All of my Resonator Guitars are hand crafted and made with solid wood. I have been collecting wood for the past few decades and have some of the finest tone woods in stock. Clinesmith Resonator Guitars are available in 6,7 and 8 string options.
My guitars are built using a large body size, which is deeper and slightly longer than the traditional sized resonators from the 80's and earlier. I use a unique post and baffle construction, instead of the traditional "soundwell" design. The brace and post system I use opens up the instrument, to use the body as well as the resonator. Where my baffle system optimizes projection and eliminates unnecessary overtones . This along with the body size and specific wood thickness' contribute to the sound. Producing a well balanced guitar with superior volume, bass and treble response with a voice that grows as the instrument ages.
The use of solid woods contribute greatly to the sound of the instrument. Below are some descriptions and prices of tone woods I most commonly use. I am a custom builder , so if you do not see a wood type or option you are looking for , please check with me as I have many other wood types in stock, and many options available to making a custom built instrument.
Curly Maple$4250
Curly Maple is one of my favorite tone woods for Resonator Guitars, especially in a bluegrass setting. It's bright,punchy, well balanced with good high , and bass end response with tight mids.It cuts through other instruments in a band situation. The Maple I use has a tiger stripe or fiddle back figure. I offer this in a blonde finish , Deep Red ,, Cinnamon and Tobacco sunburst finishes.
Standard Features:
Curly Maple Body
2 piece Curly Maple neck with center stripe
Ivoroid Binding
Custom options available
Curly Koa $4700
Hawaiian Koa is one of my favorite woods to work with. It is beautiful, finishes out nicely and has great tone..For a tone wood it is mellow and warm, but still projects well with a crisp high end. I have some amazing boards that I have been turning into beautiful guitars for the past several years. I like to use an Oil finish on my Koa guitars but also use traditional lacquer when requested. Wood bindings also contrast nicely with this wood.
Standard Features:
Curly Koa Top, Back and Sides
2 piece Curly Maple Neck
Tortoise or Black Binding
Custom options available
Honduras Mahogany $4300
Honduran Mahogany has been making fantastic musical instruments for years. It is a stable, and dense wood that contribute to a warm and lively resonator guitar. I have a large supply of Honduran Mahogany that came out of a Veneer mill assembly line in the 40's. The wood is perfectly quartersawn and is of the finest example of Mahogany for acoustic instruments.
Standard Features:
Honduras Mahogany Top,Back and Sides
Sitka Spruce Top option
One piece Mahogany Neck
Ivoroid binding
Indian Rosewood $4400
Madagascar Rosewood $5000
Rosewood makes for a great sounding resonator guitar . It makes for a warm but very rich instrument, with a clear high end and a tight mid range, when matched with a Spruce top. I have a small supply of Madagascar Rosewood that makes a beautiul instrument that compares favorably with Brazilian Rosewood in beauty and tone. I have a few sets of Brazilian Rosewood in stock. This will be the last of this endangered wood I will will work with.. If you are interested in this wood please email for availability and prices.
Standard Features:
Rosewood back and sides
Sitka Spruce Top
Ivoroid Binding
Top purfling of choice e. Herringbone
One piece Mahogany neck
Lacquer finish
Myrtlewood $4300
Oregon Myrtlewood or California Laurel grows in a very small region from Northern California to Southern Oregon with in the coastal influenced mountains. It can make a fantastic tone wood that is comparable to Maple in response and tonal characteristics. The right piece can be as beautiful as Hawaiian Koa, as it has tight figure and has remarkable color variations with dark streaks. No piece is the same. Living in Oregon I have found some excellent examples of this wood.
Standard features:
Myrtlewood Top, Back and Sides
Two Piece Curly Maple Neck
Tortoise shell Binding
Standard Features:
Hard shell TKL Case
Ebony Fret board
Schaller, Grover or Gotoh tuners
Solid Head stock
#14 Spider
USA made chrome plated hardware
Bone Nut
Ebony Capped Maple Bridge inserts
Abalone Dot inlay
Options:
Fret board Logo $100
Fishman Nashville pickup installed with adjustable spider $325
7 or 8 string model $200
Other wood options by quote
Purfling eg herringbone $100 per side
Wood Binding eg Curly Maple, Walnut,Koa $125
Thin Black purfling around top back and sides $200
Slotted Diamond inlay $175
Custom Inlay by quote
