[MC5C]

I have a Goldtone Beard signature solid mahogany cutaway round neck, it's a spider cone style. Beautiful guitar, and the tone is head and shoulders above the $500 range imports (although it's an import it lists for around $1200). I paid $750 for it. I have a 1935 Dobro Model 25 that I paid around the same for, it I play slide as the neck has a bit too much relief in it. Sounds very different yet awesome.

I always recommend playing some great instruments before you buy a cheaper one, so you can understand the compromise you may or may not be making. If you don't know what it's supposed to sound like and play like, it's very hard to make a good choice. Also, luthier-made resonator guitars are cheap compared to acoustic guitars, so become a very real choice that you may not think you had.