The ULTIMATE Resonator Guitar Comparison

Here are the links to all the different builders:
National Resophonic: www.nationalguitars.com/?lang=fr
Mule Resophonic: www.muleresophonic.com
JMT Résonateur: jmtresonateur.com
Fine Resophonic: www.fineresophonic.com
Grestch: www.gretschguitars.com
Leewald Resophonic: www.resoguitars.cz/eu.html
Leno Guitars: www.lenoguitars.com
Don't forget to subscribe !
Chapters :
00:00 - Intro
1:43 - Tricones introduction
6:36 - Tricones sound
11:00 - Singlecones introduction
16:49 - Singlecones sound
23:35 - Spidercones introduction
25:52 - Spidercones sound
28:40 - Conclusion

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

I couldn't hope to choose between guitars. I was completely distracted by your wonderful playing.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Oh thanks ! You're too kind.

[@theinnerdreamer7043]

That first national Tricone has great clarity.

[@jimmie999999999]

this is an excellent video! thank you for making it! I own a Mule. It's amazing.Stunning piece of art as well.

[@ianjarvis9657]

This is by far the best resonator guitar comparison video that i have found. Great job!

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks a lot !

[@johnpeck6144]

Absolutely fascinating video and your playing, thank you.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks a lot for your feedback !

[@aaronmaurer6874]

Very nice playing! Thanks for putting the time and effort into making this. I have single cone National Delphi, but I would love to get a Mule. I love their more relaxed/muted tone. You've got my subscription!

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks for your subscription. 😊

[@davidlorieau]

Bravo mon pote pour le rendu c’est énorme ! Trop trop content pour toi mec !

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Je t'aime je t'aime je t'aime mon pote !

[@MrResomaker]

What a great video!!! And incredible playing!!! Thank you for doing this; so wonderful to hear all the variations. As far as tricones, I preferred the National. The Mule sounded great too but the larger square sound holes of the National made it more open (I'm sure the Mule would have similar tonal properties if it had similar sound holes.) It also seeemed like you felt a greater comfort with the National. Love JMT's designs and they have a wonderful and unique tone too. I was slightly surprised to hear less pronounced differences among the single cones although they each had slight differences. Really surprised the Gretch held up but I think that is due largely to you , the player. Merci!!

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks a lot for your feedback 😊

[@ryangunwitch-black]

😮❤OMG I’m in love with everything Mule does but that JMT is absolutely beautiful. Right up my alley. I am obsessed with art nouveau and I knew that was a French maker as soon as the guitar came on screen. lol it’s gorgeous.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Good news, they are for sale ! 😊

[@MP_Single_Coil]

I’ve never heard anyone play a resonator like that. Absolutely beautiful! The Mule sounds so full and rich.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks for your kind words !

[@jmtresonateur]

Bravo Benjamin pour cette vidéo toutes les guitares sont bien mise en valeur.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Merci Jean Marc !

[@lachaineguitare]

Super vidéo ! C'est malin, maintenant j'en veux un !! 🙂

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Je l'ai déjà dit, il en manque 1 au showroom. Merci Pierre !

[@lachaineguitare]

@@benjaminguillet3210 vil tentateur !!! 🤓🤣

[@PierrePelletier-eb9pc]

Mule all the way!!! Nice playing Thanks for the review

[@benjaminguillet3210]

You're welcome 😊

[@lavoixdesonmetre]

Wow! Not one sounds like the other... So hard to decide on a favorite one as far as sound is concerned, what a dilemna if I had to buy one, and that applies to each category ... Being a poor musician myself, I would probably be choosing on aesthetic criterias!! And for that my heart would beat for the JMT models, they definitely stand out with their unique body shapes. Just so good looking, absolutely gorgeous. Shall I call that the French touch 🙂?

[@benjaminguillet3210]

That's a good choice my friend ! 😉

[@wheninroamful]

Great vid, as always!!! Cool to see some European makes iv'e never heard of. I want a Mule just like that one, great color!!!

[@benjaminguillet3210]

That Mule is beauty for sure ! 😉

[@KoStre]

I prefer the National Resophonic and for the single cone the Lee Wald. They both sound a touch warmer I believe

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Good choice? Two really great guitars.

[@JonRayRunawayVealMusic]

Great playing

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks

[@ritonlabaston]

Super intéressant ! Donc dans l’ordre (pour moi) pour les différentes catégories : National, Leewald, Smith a Young. Ça donne vraiment envie !

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Merci pour ton retour Éric. Cède à la tentation...

[@victorsilvas9603]

Totally loved the sound & the playing. Reminded me of Bob Brozeman.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@bunbun1741]

That single cone JMT sounds beautiful, especially for the bluegrass/country style.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Totally agree. It's a beast.

[@Ncolasg]

THANK YOU

[@rdctd8690]

Ah yes here we go! Been waiting for this.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Of course let me know which one is your favorite. ;)

[@rdctd8690]

@benjaminguillet3210 just finished boiling the kettle, settling into it now 🫡

[@rdctd8690]

@benjaminguillet3210 They're all pretty amazing sounding instruments. Tri-cone I gotta take the Mule, it's got a really great character that feels exactly like I imagine a resonator to sound. The wooden JMT single has a really nice snappy banjo thing going on, and that white steel JMT is wild and almost sounds too big for the room! The Leno spider bridge is absolutely beautiful and has a tasty warmth that would make me take that. But I'd have any one of the whole range to be honest 😂

[@benjaminguillet3210]

@@rdctd8690 Christmas soon. Time to order one... ;) Thanks for your feedback Andrew, your analyse is great.

[@rdctd8690]

@benjaminguillet3210 I wish it were that easy 😅 Quality video 👏

[@collisiondevices]

Mule & Leewald win for me

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Bon choix mon copain.

[@kimbarling4213]

That would be a National German steel Tricone. Just a beautiful harmonic resonance of chiming ringing tone.

[@Blue_3rd]

Thanks for a very interesting video! I have the Gretsch that you played and would love to try a Mule or a National someday. Regards from Spain✌️. PS the fingerboard is made from padauk.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks for your feedback 😊

[@2193191]

That was a fun comparison! Thanks for putting it together. So hard to ID preferences, though, because ALL resos sound good......don't they??!!

[@benjaminguillet3210]

I agree. They are all great. A hard choice for sure.

[@NuttinbutdaBlues]

Nice chops. The National tricone definitely more balanced and full sounding, the single cones was a much tougher choice, but if I could only get one, it would probably be the Golden Age one. The Leno sounded much fuller than the Smith and Young. Too bad you couldn't get hold of a Beard. Amazing spider cone guitars. He's making some really sweet flat tops now too. Awesome video, bravo!

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks for your feedback ! The beard are really beautiful but really rare in France.

[@NuttinbutdaBlues]

@@benjaminguillet3210 I live in the state where they’re made and actually visited their shop a few months ago to have them install a pickup in the Paul Beard signature Goldtone I own. So they let me play a bunch of their guitars while I waited. Super nice people that make superb instruments. I really enjoyed your video, there’s some beautiful resonators being built around the world.(but I’m still partial to my Nationals!)

[@benjaminguillet3210]

I'm also in love with my National Tricone. It's the first resonator I bought, back in 2010. So it has a special place in my heart.

[@BadTemperJoe]

Great video! Do check out Peters Resonators from Germany. Some really special resonator guitars.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks ! I'll surely check it out.

[@gfirob]

Great video, fascinating. How interesting that all these European builders stand up so well to the Americans. As we would expect, each is an individual, strong in its own way. The only comment I might make is that you play without fingerpicks which (I think) most resonator players (but not all) use and the sound with fingerpicks is substantially different. But thanks for the video and great playing too. And you handled the English language in a complex subject matter that is quite specific to what is usually considered an American genre of music. Very well done.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks a lot for your feedback. I do not use finger picks cause I personally do not like that sound. For me the ultimate resonator sound is Kelly Joe Phelps on his last album Brother sinner and the whale. Only bare fingers. 😊

[@gfirob]

@@benjaminguillet3210 Thanks for the note. As you know, many players do use finger picks, metal or plastic for a brighter and louder sound. I don't think you could play bluegrass on a dobro without them. I use them on a 1930 Square necked National tricone. Kelly Joe Phelps is a fabulous player, but consider John Fahey (playing a Weissenborn) who always played with picks. To each his own.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

@@gfirob you're true. I do not appreciate this kind of sound when I play but I really appreciate when they are in the hands of great players.

[@sniuk]

Thanks a lot! Really enjoyed it! *For tricone the resonance and tone of the Mule gives me goosebumps!!! So definitely the Mule wins. Although National is great too *Single cone Inwas surprised to see the gretsch alligator within so much more expensive guitars, but it did keep up very well! But have a conflicting there. The 3 songs you played 2 prefer Gretsch and the other JMT ! Funny enough I have tried the Gretsch at a shop, had good feelings, then went back for it another day and they've changed the strings and it sounded like a completely different (worse) instrument. So didn't get it. But still wondering if only with stock strings will be back 😂 * Spider one, Leno all the way! I'm from Barcelona and didn't know im the brand, will check it out !

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks for your feedback ! If you're from Barcelona, you really need to visit Leno's workshop. 🙏

[@dimitrideblock2148]

Vraiment génial ! J'ai l'impression de rêver ! Ça n'a pas dû être facile de réunir tout ça... Les JMTs me font forte impression. Sinon, quel est le microphone sur la vidéo ? Avez-vous fait les prises avec ? Merci pour le boulot !

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Merci beaucoup ! Les JMT sont effectivement de vraies bombes. Pour le micro, c'est un ear trumpet lab Myrtle. J'ai fait toutes les prises avec bien entendu.

[@Ncolasg]

Tricones for me are the best, very nice controlled harmonics.

[@resomony]

That Gretsch sounded just a good as those "boutique" guitars to me. Status and aesthetics would be the only appeal of the pricey ones.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

In fact the recording doesn't allow us to hear the huge gap between the gretsch and the others. If you could test theses instruments in "real life", you would never choose the gretsch. It's a great guitar for the price, but way behind the Fine Resophonic for example.

[@boneyboney3575]

NRP Tricone Fine Resophonic for authenticity vs Leewald for volume NRP

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks for your feedback

[@rodjones117]

One thing about Gretsch resos - Gretsch do not supply replacement cones (or any other spares), which could affect your decision. Disclaimer - I have one and I am very happy with it. Just hope the cone holds out....

[@benjaminguillet3210]

You can upgrade your Gretsch with a National cone if necessary. They are really great guitars for the price.

[@rodjones117]

@@benjaminguillet3210 National cones are extremely expensive, and tests here and elsewhere show that the "upgrade" doesn't actually makes a very noticable difference to the sound. Way better if Gretsch supplied replacement cones at a reasonable price. I am happy with my Gretsch reso, but if you don't want to supply spare parts you don't really care about your customers imho.

[@J.Dove3D]

The Mule tricone sounds the best. It isn't even close. I have owned my Mule for about four years now, couldn't say enough good things about it.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Yes Mule are so cool ! But believe me the others are great too. :)

[@jerryhorton5708]

If I could justify a tricone, I’d get the Mule in a heartbeat. Due to budget (and talent) constraints, the Gretsch is probably my jam

[@joshuakemblebluegrass838]

Wish you hadn’t teased that left handed tri-cone because now I’m going crazy wishing I could hear what it sounds like…

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Oh I understand you. This is an insane instrument.

[@robertrohrs9195]

I have a Gibson Epiphone that I absolutely love

[@alaskasonicarts]

Spidercone: I think I prefer the Leno. Both sounded wonderful though. Would love to have heard a Michael Messer fiddle edge to compare.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

I talk to Michael but it wasn't possible for him to send me one for the test. As you said, the Leno sounds really great.

[@mgie22]

Great video! I’ve learned all the playing examples you used and love them. Are they from longer songs I can check out?

[@benjaminguillet3210]

@@mgie22 thanks a lot for your feedback. I have a book out for sale: www.amazon.com/Morceaux-Pour-Guitare-Acoustique-French/dp/B0CM1BD23J/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?crid=24RSUDGWEAM2I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zGMUIRrP-VaPQA9Norb3G7PZQQOGGZnw0d3XIXUR2SRGtMWL5lYP76w0ZfmK_UAsXcdkcv8e4KPNIkFf5LwjYA.NskL8AgEGe2YxcnYq1B9usvvrBOTorfYdY4keEee3zs&dib_tag=se&keywords=20+morceaux+pour+guitare+acoustique&qid=1721907437&sprefix=20+morceaux+pour+guitare+acoustique%2Caps%2C210&sr=8-1-fkmr0 And I have a book about modes in preparation

[@mgie22]

@@benjaminguillet3210 awesome, I’ll check that out. Are these songs from your book then?

[@benjaminguillet3210]

@@mgie22 kzbin.info/aero/PLR7vuq-qoMjnHil8clcJUT4cRe2kVU07Z&si=jnAuEChAHV5IXoS5 here is the link to all videos related to the book.

[@mgie22]

@@benjaminguillet3210 just purchased the book :) I love your style of mixing jazzy, Cuban, and country blues sounds into one beautiful mix

[@benjaminguillet3210]

@@mgie22 thanks a lot for your support !

[@ScottScholz]

Fantastic playing! What's that first piece that you play in the hybrid picked portion of the playing examples?

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Thanks a lot ! The first piece is a little composition of mine.

[@colomeschristophe7620]

JMT et le Leno pour moi !

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Hâte de voir ton futur JMT :)

[@YannGUTTER]

Super video, bon j'avoue que l'accent anglais pique bcp et que j'ai eu un peu de mal avec ça mais sinon très chouette sujet, bien traité et magnifique jeu ! Gros coup de coeur pour les résonateurs mule depuis quelques temps (et cette vidéo ne fais que le confirmer) donc ma préférence va au tricone mule vert.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Décidément, ya que les français qui font des remarques sur les accents. 😊

[@wildepascal]

Non, les belges néerlandophones aussi ;-) je me confesse, je ne supporte pas les francophones qui parlent anglais avec leur gros accent... mais après même pas deux minutes, j'ai oublié tout ça par la qualité du traitement du sujet :)@@benjaminguillet3210

[@benjaminguillet3210]

@@wildepascal merci beaucoup. 😊

[@prenom1938]

Merci beaucoup pour ce test détaillé. Difficile de choisir même si j'ai une petite préférence pour la Leno. Pourrais tu préciser le poids dans les prochains tests car c'est un critère important et éventuellement le prix ?

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Merci pour votre retour ! Je tâcherai de penser au poids et au prix pour les futures vidéos.

[@jipes]

So many different materials and size of bodies hard to make a fair comparison but imho for my ears For the Tricone 1-National Resophonic, 2-Ex aequo Mule , 3- JMT guitar and finally as for the Single cone 1_ Fine Resophonic , 2- Ex Aequo Gretsch, JMT metal body and Tchèque guitar 4-JMT wood body. Finally for the spiders The Leno has my vote

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Merci pour ton retour Jipes ;)

[@ryangunwitch-black]

13:25 It’s like the Nautilus! ❤

[@benjaminguillet3210]

This is it, the guitar is about the Jules Verne's world

[@kaputme]

@21:57 @22:35

[@alaskasonicarts]

Single cone: amazing how good that Gretsch held up to the competition! For me #1 Fine Resophonics, #2 wood-bodied JMT, #3 Gretsch!

[@benjaminguillet3210]

The Gretsch recorded well, in real life people will immediately hear the huge gap between the Gretsch and the other ones. The Fine is a true wonder.

[@alaskasonicarts]

@@benjaminguillet3210 I played one of those wood-bodied Gretsch’s in a Guitar Center store and was also impressed with the tone. The metal-bodied Gretsch they had, however, sounded bad.

[@bunbun1741]

@@benjaminguillet3210 Is that the Alligator or the Bobtail?

[@benjaminguillet3210]

@@bunbun1741 It's the G9240 Alligator. ;)

[@FezzantPlucka]

Hi, what tuning are you in for this? Thanks.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Hi, I'm in standard tuning. 🙂

[@alaskasonicarts]

Tricone-The National sounds best to me. Very open and full. I wonder if I would feel differently if you’d played another one first…?

[@benjaminguillet3210]

As you said it's the more open. The Mule has a bit more compression due to the smaller size of the F holes compare to a standard tricone.

[@alaskasonicarts]

@@benjaminguillet3210 I own a Mule tricone and love it! But I was really impressed with your National.

[@sparrowsparrow4197]

Mule 3. Gretch. 1. Barcelona Leno. Spider. If I could only pick one from all. Barcelona !!! Thanks

[@benjaminguillet3210]

The Leno almost plays by itself. Great choice !

[@sparrowsparrow4197]

Whàt do you think of the sounds of republic like. Highway 61. ?

[@benjaminguillet3210]

@@sparrowsparrow4197 never tried one.

[@sparrowsparrow4197]

@@benjaminguillet3210 in some ways I like republic reso better than national and mule. They are less expensive but I like their raw. On the back porch southern black early blues sound. I think the mule and national too refined if I had just one. The car strings are high on the highway 61 and a player said that part reason for strong reso feel/sound

[@ryangunwitch-black]

Sonically, I think the white JMT metal body wins the single cone. The Gretsch didn’t sound bad at all but I could tell it was less easily played

[@larrycortner6321]

That was an excellent comparison .I have to say the last three spidercone guitars had the best sound ,The Leno was slightly the better of the three .Jerry Douglas said that the spider cones have the best sound ,He is right .I have a fancy Dean metal crome and gold with a biscuit bridge .I will change it to a spider cone after hearing the difference. Thank you so much for this comparison .they all sound pretty close the same .it boils down to playability. $4000 resonator don't sound any better than a $400 resonator.

[@prepaetperformance]

Au cas où, je suis gaucher, et prêt à me sacrifier pour essayer le petit Lefty...😇🤣

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Il a déjà un père qui l'adore... ;)

[@prepaetperformance]

@@benjaminguillet3210 quelle tragédie…😜

[@caryboyd2181]

The steel bodies sound best.

[@caryboyd2181]

I love Jules Verne to. Just finished Michael Strogof

[@moisesgomez5593]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Are you Nocolas Cage?

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Do I look like him ?

[@moisesgomez5593]

@@benjaminguillet3210 Definitely yes, you look a lot like the actor. Greetings from Costa Rica.

[@dallasbatchy]

THE. CHEAPEST. ONE.

[@snorrevonflake]

Ah the joy of having a LOT of money to spend for toys.

[@benjaminguillet3210]

Just in case, these guitars are not all mine. But I've the chance to own 4 of them. Thinking that I'm rich is a HUGE mistake. ;)