"I have worked hard at making the highest quality instruments that take advantage of new technologies and techniques while honoring the tradition of the Dopyera family."
~ Paul Beard
Ever since the first Beard resonator was delivered to a customer in 1985, Paul Beard and his small team have worked hard at making the highest quality instruments that take advantage of new technologies and techniques, while honoring the tradition of the Dopyera family.
Innovation & Leadership
For decades, Paul Beard has been at the forefront of resonator guitar design, refining cone construction, body shapes, and bracing to deliver unmatched projection, sustain, and tonal balance - setting the industry standard for bluegrass and slide players alike.
Player-Centered Design
Whether it’s the powerful open-body E Model, the modern ergonomics of the Odyssey, or custom features tailored for top artists, Beard guitars are built with the player’s needs front and center - delivering comfort, responsiveness, and inspiring tone for any style.
Handcrafted in the USA
Every Beard guitar is built in Hagerstown, Maryland, by a small team of skilled luthiers. From wood selection to final setup, each step is performed with care, ensuring consistency, quality, and an unmistakable “Beard” voice in every instrument.
Beard Guitars FAQ
Common questions about Beard resonator guitars - the builder, the instruments, and where to try one near Boston.
Where can I try a Beard resonator guitar near Boston?
The Music Emporium in Lexington, Massachusetts is an authorized Beard Guitars dealer. We carry Beard resonators at our showroom near Boston, and players from across New England come to try them in person. Beard builds in Hagerstown, Maryland, and their instruments are among the most respected resonator guitars made anywhere - reach out or check the page to see what is currently in stock.
Who is Paul Beard and what makes Beard resonators special?
Paul Beard has been building resonator guitars in Hagerstown, Maryland since 1985, working to honor the tradition of the Dopyera family - the inventors of the resonator guitar - while bringing modern construction techniques and refined cone design to the form. He and his small team have spent decades refining body shapes, bracing, and cone construction to deliver the projection, sustain, and tonal balance that bluegrass and slide players demand.
What is a resonator guitar and who plays them?
A resonator guitar amplifies sound through a spun metal cone (or cones) built into the body rather than through the vibration of the top itself. The result is a louder, more cutting tone with a distinctive metallic edge - ideal for bluegrass dobro playing, Delta blues slide, and any style where projection and cut matter. Resonators can be played with a slide in lap steel position (square neck) or in the conventional fretting position (round neck).
What Beard models does The Music Emporium carry?
Our Beard selection has included the E Model (an open-body design favored by bluegrass and slide players for its powerful projection), the Odyssey (a more modern ergonomic body), and the Trailhead - each reflecting Paul Beard's decades of innovation in resonator design. Inventory rotates; contact us or check the page to see what is currently available.
What is the difference between a roundneck and a squareneck resonator?
Roundneck resonators have a conventional guitar neck profile and are played in the standard fretting position, making them versatile for slide and fingerstyle alike. Squareneck resonators have a raised nut and square-profile neck designed specifically for lap steel playing with a slide bar - they cannot be fretted in the conventional position. Most bluegrass dobro players use squarenecks; blues and fingerstyle players often prefer roundnecks. Beard builds both.