- Home
- Instruments
- Gear
- Recording
- Lessons
- Reviews
- Blog
| Body And Neck: |  |
| Hardware: |  |
| Sound: | |
| Value: | |
Looking for a resonator that offers a visual punch in addition to that rustic twangy tone? We will draw your attention to the Chrome G Roundneck electro-acoustic, which is a longstanding part of Dean’s ever-growing resonator collection. Aside from killer looks, this excellent resonator has a few tricks up its sleeve. Curious? Read on!
First up, we’re discussing looks – and this biscuit-bridge resonator sure has some! While the build is pretty standard, the design is enchanting, with the body made entirely from chrome. Along the top you’ll find a decorative palm tree etching, which is echoed up on the headstock, while the ornate f-holes are a boost to the aesthetics and projection. The chrome is contrast with all gold hardware, including the eye-catching diamond coverplate. This mix of chrome and gold is stunning, although keeping it free from fingerprints is an unenviable task!
This resonator sports a slightly reduced 24.75” scale length, with a traditional non-cutaway dreadnought-style body. Besides looking great, it’s built to last and plays very well. It’s a roundneck resonator, so playing it in the traditional acoustic guitar position (i.e. on your knee) is a comfortable experience.
The neck is smooth and slick to get up and down, made from solid mahogany with a rosewood fretboard, featuring 19 frets with large split block inlays made from pearl and abalone. All in all, this completes a very attractive and well-built resonator. No problems here.
As mentioned in the intro, the Chrome G is an electro-acoustic, fitted with two pickups – a piezo that’s hidden in the body, along with a lipstick-style single-coil pickup in between the coverplate and neck. These are stock pickups, which – truth be told – feel a bit basic for the price, but they still do their job. These are tended to by three control knobs, comprising a volume, tone and blend control to subtly mix and switch between the two pickups. This handy feature proves a versatile addition when plugging in.
The rest of the hardware looks awesome with the gold coating adding that extra bling. On the slotted headstock, you’ll find a set of open-gear diecast Grover tuners, which – combined with the sturdy tailpiece – keeps tuning in check. Aside from the weaker pickups, the only other shame is that the nut is made of plastic. Otherwise, it’s a solid piece of kit.
Unplugged, the projection on the Chrome G is decent and pretty standard for a metal-bodied resonator. When plucked or strummed, especially while using a slide, it delivers that satisfying metallic tone we love from a biscuit-bridged resonator. As mentioned, the pickups aren’t incredible, with the piezo proving a little weak in its output. Still, they do the job that’s asked of them, and quickly plugging in and squeezing out a decent twangy tone isn’t too difficult. Adding some reverb via the amp really allows you to find an enchanting swampy blues sound.
The Chrome G is not without its flaws and, for the price, we were expecting slightly stronger pickups. However, take nothing away from the solid build and stunning finish of this unique chrome resonator. It’s a worthy purchase as it is, but if you are willing to add a few aftermarket upgrades, this could be a very serious guitar indeed.
For more info about the Dean Chrome G Roundneck, click here.
For more resonator guitars, click here.
Reader Interactions