Open back banjos tend to be lighter and less costly, making them ideal for beginners looking to learn the fundamentals of playing. Beginners may wish to upgrade later to one with a resonator.
An open-back banjo does not contain a resonator on its back, allowing sound to freely escape for a smoother tone. A resonator may be attached if desired but this is not required.
They produce a mellower sound
Open back models produce a more subdued sound than their resonator counterparts due to lacking a resonator, creating a warmer mid-range tone which clawhammer players appreciate.
Open back banjos feature a more relaxed sound, making practice sessions easier to take without disturbing other residents in your home or dorm room. Furthermore, their simple unscrewing mechanism makes removing their resonator quick and painless; typically there are three or four screws (more like bolts) holding on which can take less than a minute to take apart and install again.
Open back banjos are ideal for traditional music. Their quieter playing environments and lighter weight often make them popular among old-time and clawhammer music lovers, as well as fans of frailing and clawhammer playing styles. Gold Tone offers several open back banjos suited to traditional styles, including the CC-50RP and OB-250 with either Fiberskyn heads (made of synthetic material that emulates the look and feel of real calfskin) or clear heads, both capable of producing warm yet melodious sounds.
They are more affordable
Open-back banjos tend to be more affordable, making them an excellent option for beginner players. Furthermore, these instruments can easily adapt to traditional music genres and can even be upgraded later with a resonator.
Resonator banjos feature curved bowls that direct sound toward an audience, enabling it to be heard more clearly; making this style particularly ideal for bluegrass music genres where banjo is often played as the lead instrument.
However, if you plan on playing clawhammer banjo styles then a resonator banjo is probably not your ideal choice. This is due to clawhammer banjos requiring strumming and fingerpicks which don’t work with these instruments. Furthermore, they tend to be louder than open-back banjos which might not suit your musical preferences as much. It is also worth considering size – open-back banjos tend to be lighter while some models allow users to remove the resonator with caution for optimal results.
They can be attached to resonators
Resonator banjos can be connected to open back banjos to further project their sound into an audience and increase volume, but are more expensive and heavier. Their setup requires higher string action.
Resonator banjos are generally best for bluegrass music due to their bright, twangy sound; however, an open-back banjo may provide a smoother tone and be the better choice if you prefer something with more muted tones.
Many people ask whether it is possible to attach a resonator to an open-back banjo. The answer is yes; however, you must be mindful not to cause damage to the instrument. In addition, consider whether or not your chosen resonator fits on your banjo snugly without becoming loose and falling off easily, or is in a place that won’t interfere with its neck or strings.
They are more durable
The Goodtime Open Back Banjo is lightweight and perfect for beginner musicians. Equipped with a Remo head and featuring a mahogany rim and neck for a warm sound that cannot be found elsewhere, making this model durable enough for travel purposes as well.
Resonators can be easily detached when necessary; there are only three or four screws (more like bolts) holding it on, making removal or installation less than one minute away. This feature makes the banjo lightweight and portable – perfect for beginners who wish to take it wherever they go.
This model’s major drawbacks are its lack of mute – essential if you plan on playing bluegrass – and its limited versatility (clawhammer or Scruggs style don’t really suit it well; more suitable for acoustic indie and traditional music).