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Recording King Rattlesnake Small-body Resonator Guitar - Gloss Sunburst

Resonator Guitar with Mahogany Top, Back, Sides, and Neck, Padauk Fingerboard, and Resonator Cone - Gloss Sunburst

Like Sweet Bites? Try the Rattlesnake Resonator!

The Rattlesnake Resonator from Recording King is a suave wood-bodied resonator guitar with strong vintage vibes carved from fine materials. If you’re looking for a slim Prohibition-era instrument that can speak loudly in the speakeasy, this may be the guitar for you. The Rattlesnake is built almost entirely from mahogany, which gives it a focused, mature voice that’s exceptionally clean — perfect for recording, accompaniment, and more. Mahogany’s razor-sharp focus is amplified to perfection by a hand-spun European resonator cone; this cone infuses your playing with the raspy metallic voice that’s a signature of old-school Delta blues and folk. If you need a high-quality, performance-ready resonator guitar, don’t hesitate to reach out and grab a Recording King Rattlesnake from Sweetwater!

Built for comfort

The Rattlesnake is built for comfort with a number of upscale features that won’t break the bank. A slim, shapely body ensures vintage articulation and playability for travel, gigs, or simply keeping it within reach and on display in your living space. Meanwhile, a comfortable mahogany neck and a padauk fingerboard ensure great playability, whether you’re plucking intricate dusty melodies or wailing on your Great Depression–era tune with a slide. This instrument also features a “C” neck carve, which makes fretting feel natural and easy up and down the neck.

Soundwell makes it sound swell

Recording King went to great lengths to ensure that this resonator has great volume and projection. The Rattlesnake Resonator features a premium body crafted entirely from mahogany. This classic tonewood is prized for its sustain, depth, and volume, and it’s a natural pairing for the Rattlesnake’s hand-spun resonator cone. This cone features soundwell construction with resonator posts that raise the cone slightly above the body to boost the sound chamber space for extra volume and resonance. The result is better projection and a more musical sound that exemplifies what makes resonator guitars unique.

Recording King: retro refreshed

The landmark Recording King brand traces its origins back to the 1930s, building contracts with the retail titan Montgomery Ward. During the early days of radio and recorded music, affordable but well-crafted Recording King guitars, banjos, and resonators swept across the nation far and wide. Now revived, Recording King harkens back to those early days of production-line American instruments built for pros and budding musicians. Nearly a century later, these retro models take their cues from vintage designs for results that look and sound like their 1930s counterparts.

Recording King Rattlesnake Resonator Features:

Gloss-finished mahogany top delivers strong sustain with bold, focused tone
Sturdy mahogany back and sides complement the mahogany top with midrange heft and rich resonance
Slim round-shouldered body is comfortable to play and easy to take anywhere
Gloss-finished mahogany neck with a comfortable “C” profile
Smooth padauk fingerboard with 19 frets
12th-fret neck joint yields a soft, supple string feel that’s great for fingerpicking
Hand-spun European resonator cone delivers world-class tone inspired by vintage designs
Pedestal soundwell with elevated resonator posts gives notes more room to bloom within the guitar
Internal Sitka spruce bracing and dual F-holes balance tone across lows, mids, and highs
Premium hardware increases resonance (a bone nut, an ebony saddle, and a maple bridge)
Sturdy nickel tuners with black button covers and an 18:1 tuning ratio for fast and precise tuning
Includes removable handrest for quick adjustment

Specification	Detail
Resonator Type	Biscuit
Number of Strings	6
Body Shape	Small Body
Left-/Right-handed	Right-handed
Body Style	No Cutaway
Color	Sunburst
Finish	Gloss
Top Material	Mahogany
Back & Sides Material	Mahogany
Body Bracing	Pedestal Soundwell
Neck Wood	Mahogany
Neck Shape	C
Fingerboard Material	Padauk
Fingerboard Inlay	Pearl Dots
Binding	Ivory Plastic
Number of Frets	19
Scale Length	25"
Tuning Machines	Open Gear with Black Buttons
Bridge Material	Maple
Nut/Saddle Material	Bone/Ebony
Nut Width	1.75"
Strings	D'Addario, .013-.056
Case Included	Sold Separately

RETURN INFORMATION

We want you to be completely happy with your purchase from Sweetwater. If you are not satisfied with your product, you may return it for a refund of the purchase price within 30 days. If your purchase was eligible for Free Shipping, the shipping cost will be deducted from your credit or refund. Returns must be in the complete and original packaging with all accessories and complete documentation (Owner's Manual, warranty card, quick start guides, etc.), show no signs of wear or use, and include a Return Authorization number or be subject to a restocking fee.