Amistar brown sugar

Some more info, that I sent to a guy in Greece who had some specific questions, maybe it will answer some other folks' questions also (see complete review below for more):
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Basically, when I went looking for a resonator to replace my Johnson, I looked at Beard goldtone and National and a few other smaller makes.

the reasons I chose Amistar might or might not hit your important points, but here they are:
It had a 14th fret join to the neck instead of 12th fret- which gave the access of a cutaway without losing the sound - the Goldtone cutaway sounded terrible compared to the full body. Because it hits further up the neck, the Amistar has a much smaller body, which I like (travel with it a lot), which costs a little in extreme low end response compared to the big bodies (goldtone and national), but it really has an amazing resonance - sounds like you are playing in a cathedral, has overtones and echoes that I find beautiful (can be damped out if needed, but noise is a big part of resonator styles, I like to have it available and sound good). And when you plug it in you can boost the bass if you want (I like it just as is). even acoustic, it is very loud, if you dig in can be easily twice as loud as a plain acoustic, and sounds great.

the construction is beautiful - binding, wood grain, general quality - all first rate. I talked to the Amistar people at length - they really analyzed what made the National a great instrument and then didn't copy it, but blended those dimensions and techniques into a truly modern but classic sounding instrument. Nut is slightly narrower than a National, but seems great for me, the national neck is a little wide for upright playing (as opposed to lap, which I don't do)
the neck is comfortable - not nearly as deep as a national - very easy to get around on. I wouldn't want the neck any thinner or narrower, that would probably hurt the sound and wouldn't make it any easier to play.

and also important - the pickups. worth a couple hundred dollars at least, which is why the price isn't really as high as it seems - if you tried to add a good pickup setup to a pure acoustic it would cost more and sound worse, The Amistar has the P-90 on the top and a piezo molded into the cone, which sounds great and eliminates much of the feedback problens that piezos have on resonator guitars. so you get the warm woody sound of the magnetic pickup and the crisp sound of the piezo, with a blend control to mix them, so you can sound like anyone you want by playing with the mix. in blend mode, the P-90 is attenuated a bit so it is the same output as the passive piezo for equal blending. so you might want a direct box to pump the signal up a bit (i just run through a boss compressor with very low compression, which cleans up the sound somehow for all resonators, a good trick to know, and the level up a bit for extra signal).
It also has a pull switch on the volume knob to give you full volume, P-90 only, for a much louder and bluesier sound, and eliminates feedback while retaining some of the sound of the cone.

so you can just plug in to either a PA or a guitar amp, and play with the blend to sound good for either. I tried some heavy distortion, but found I like the Amistar resonance so much that I've stopped using it....

see below for website info

By the way, you can check out the instruments and find your local distributor here:

http://www.vagabondinstruments.com/contact.shtml

the Duotones are the ones with the dual pickup arrangements...

and you are welcome to contact me for more info, I just love these guitars and want to see them succeed....(no, I don't work for the company, I just play the guitar...)

Pickups- P-90 on the top and piezo mounted in the cone, with blend control
Body: Maple/Mahogany Plywood
Walnut Root Veneer/Maple Intarsia
Neck: Maple/Mahogany
Finish: Natural VAX/Satin/High Gloss
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Trussrod: Adjustable
Inlays: Mother-of-pearl/Maple
Nut: Genuine Bone
Bridge: Biscuit Maple
No. of frets: 19 total
Neck/body joint: 14 fret
Neck width: Nut 45 mm - 12th fret 55 mm
Scale length: 24,9", 632 mm
Tuners: Grover/Schaller Vintage
Strings: Phosphor bronze .014
Resonators: Aluminium alloy 9 1/2"

I love the sound of this guitar (and I've had 25, including Martins and Paul Reed Smiths). It isn't the big bottom of the larger guitars that join at the 12th fret, but I like the 14th fret join, it allows me to get up higher more easily. It does have a unique resonance that reminds me of my Martin HD-28 - sort of a built-in reverb, like playing in a big cathedral....very active, you can feel the neck vibrate when you play

The blended piezo and P-90 give a nice, flexible sound, whether plugged into a guitar amp or a PA, you get a great resonator tone without feedback or need for outboard EQ...and there is a pull switch on the volume pot that gives a louder P-90-only option, straight into blues land and not so resonator-like.

This brand is a really underrated gem...very popular in Europe - they can't get Nationals much over there, so some Czech instrument builders (and Europe is where the great instrument builders are!!!) decided to take the important facets of National and build one of their own...these are less expensive and include a great integrated dual pickup, which makes it perfect for playing out and solves the biggest problem with a resonator - how to amplify it.

Setup was perfect. Strings were medium, I put Martin Resonator strings on it (a bit heavier), better for slide, improved the sustain a bit. Very pretty guitar - pearloid headstock, nice antique finish on the cone cover.

Not solid wood, but they picked a good set of woods for the sandwich (not your normal plywood!), and I can't fault the tone.

Finish and hardware seem fine - haven't had it long enough to know how it will hold up, but it all seems solid. The antique finish on the cone cover isn't permanent, and playing does let the brass show through where your hand rests, but I think this is on purpose and gives it a nice aged look.

Lifetime warranty. Can't get better than that. They are just getting going with US distribution, but I've talked to all of the guys and they were as helpful as could be - e-mails with questions to the factory get answered quickly, and the local guys (HQ in Nashville) are friendly and helpful. I'll definitely visit them next time I'm down that way...

I give it a 9 only because the factory is far away....

I've been playing (in bands) for 40 years, all kinds of music, have had boutique tube amps and high-end instruments, along with a bunch of 1960's Harmony's and other amusing and fun stuff. I played a bunch of other resonators before discovering this one, and it was love at first sight (or twang, I guess) - it just feels right. Only had that three times before, with the Martin HD-28, the PRS Hollowbody, and the PRS McCarty. And American Standard Strats and Gibson Les Pauls, of course, they are perfect for what they do - but not a special as the Amistar. I've sold pretty much everything else since buying it, because i just don't play anything else any more....this baby does it all. Fingerstyle, with a pick, slide, acoustic, electric....even right into the PA, it sounds perfect.

If it was stolen I'd cry, then pick up the phone to call Nashville and get another ASAP.