Open back banjos tend to produce a gentler tone and weigh less than their resonator counterparts, making them often cheaper options.
Resonator banjos are ideal for beginning players looking to enter bluegrass music. Their loud sound allows an audience to fully hear your impressive playing abilities.
The Pot
Banjo tone is created through the interaction of many variables that come together. Some variables are more easily altered than others, including head type and tightness, string gauge/tension and tension, banjo construction (rim thickness/toning) and bridge height.
The pot is the sound chamber on an open back banjo that contributes significantly to its sound quality, especially if you play clawhammer or old time two finger picking. Due to their lack of resonators secured with heavy metal flanges, open back banjos tend to produce darker, mellower tones than their matching resonator models; their pot also keeps the back away from your body which helps increase volume and tone; most pots can be adjusted or removed via thumbscrews for easy transportation or storage.
The Resonator
Resonators are added to pots in order to serve as sound chambers that can alter or color the tone of banjos, as well as increasing volume by reflecting sound back into it via Helmholtz resonance.
Most bluegrass banjos feature a resonator. When playing with a band, these types of banjos must be loud to cut through all of the other instruments and to cut through the noise produced by other instruments. They often follow jazz’s playing style – playing melodies before taking turns soloing on them.
Old time banjo styles such as claw hammer and frailing don’t rely on resonators as much to make their sound loud, with some old time players even adding dampening cloth beneath their banjo head to lower its volume further.
The Neck
Banjo players need the neck of their instrument as an integral component. It offers stability when playing, and allows for the adjustment of fifth string pitch for optimal playing experience and sound production and tuning. This also prevents excessively loose or tight string tension which could compromise sound production or cause issues during tuning sessions.
Resonator banjos are often preferred by bluegrass musicians due to their louder and brighter sound; however, open-back banjos may also be appropriate for certain old-time styles like clawhammer. Removing the resonator from most banjos will alter its overall tone and sustain.
The Goodtime Open Back Banjo features an innovative lightweight design for ease of carrying and playing by beginner banjo players. It boasts a maple neck with gear-driven fifth string tuning peg and single coordinator rod.
The Head
Head is the primary vibration surface on an open back banjo, meaning its material, tightness and position have an enormous influence on its tone.
Common banjo heads include skin, Renaissance and Fiberskyn models. While high-quality heads may be costly, you could save by investing in an entry-level banjo such as Cripple Creek CC-50 which offers ideal performance for old time and clawhammer style playing.
Clear heads are perfect for showing off decorative work like inlays, gold plating and other embellishments on your banjo. Their sound is soft yet distinct with long sustain. However, bass response may be lower than with bottom-frosted heads; some players also prefer black heads as it provides greater overtone cancellation than either clear or frosted options.
The Bridge
An effective bridge is integral to improving intonation and producing an outstanding sound from your banjo. We advise using the “harmonics” routine at least annually to inspect its placement; additionally it may be beneficial after adding new strings or tightening your head.
Bridges come in various thicknesses and compensated designs. Deering has found that using an 11/16″ height from first string to fifth string to be most efficient for most players.
Ton rings, which attach to the back of a pot and reflect sound forward, can add volume and sustain to a banjo’s sound; however, some players prefer having one removed in favor of creating an open tone.