Open back banjos are great for playing traditional and folk styles like clawhammer played with finger picks. Without the resonator they also tend to be quieter.
Tone rings are metal or wooden rings that rest under the head rim, providing an integral component of sound quality. Their addition can make an enormous impactful statement about its creator.
Scale Length
Scale length refers to the distance from the center of the nut to the 12th fret, with 25-1/2″ being considered standard. Many companies have adopted this standard so their banjo specifications remain stable year to year; additionally it prevents tooling for “fads”, meaning your OME banjo will always meet today’s standards!
Open back banjos are often preferred by clawhammer players (an old-time style of playing). Although they can also be played for bluegrass music, due to a portion of sound being lost into its body of the banjo. Open back models also tend to be lighter and better for traveling or when leaning back in their recliners for playing purposes.
Body Material
Open back banjo bodies should be constructed from sturdy material for maximum sound production and ease of playability. A great open back banjo should also be lightweight to facilitate easy transport; this feature can come in especially handy if you are often entertaining at different venues.
Wood must be constructed sturdily in order to withstand wear and tear and should come from quality species like maple or walnut.
Banjos should also feature world-class resonator heads to ensure an authentic sound, add depth to their tone, stay tuned longer, and affect its tone; different heads have various impacts on the sound produced.
Tone Ring
Tone rings play an essential part in defining how much a banjo will sound. Basic banjos typically feature an inexpensive multiply rim with a weak brass tone ring; more robust options such as those from Deering Goodtime open back banjo with Whyte Laydie style metal tone rings will sound much better and can often be found for less money in regional music stores.
Consider whether or not a resonator will add too much weight and volume. Some players prefer open back banjos without resonators for their more soothing sounds; however if you intend on playing clawhammer or other old time styles you will probably require one; remember though that you can always remove it later to lighten and dampen its sound somewhat.
Resonator
Resonators don’t actually’resonate,’ per se; instead they work by absorbing soundwaves to lower volume from your banjo – something which can come in handy for bluegrass music or other styles that call for louder instruments.
Open back banjos are ideal for playing clawhammer and traditional mountain music styles where volume levels don’t need to be as loud; consequently, these instruments typically cost less than resonator models.
If you want to be heard in large crowds when playing acoustic bluegrass, resonator banjos may be the way to go. But for more mellow sounds that blend with other instruments without dominating them, an open back may be more suitable and cost less overall than its resonator counterpart; especially if bought from an independent vendor that stands behind its products rather than simply offering banjos out of crates shipped directly from China without providing service or support of any sort.