Regional music stores usually sell banjos directly out of the boxes they import from China without providing any service or support whatsoever for these instruments. Luckily, there are vendors who stand behind their instruments.
Start off with an open back banjo, but as time progresses you may want to upgrade to a resonator later. Bluegrass players often favor these instruments.
They don’t need a resonator
Beginners typically opt for an open back banjo as this model is less expensive and does not need a resonator. Furthermore, these banjos typically come equipped with a geared tuner, an ideal feature for beginning players – but make sure it is not made of cheap plastic – the more expensive banjos typically feature better tuners which should help improve your experience playing banjo.
Open-back banjos are best used in traditional music genres like old-time and mountain, where their mellow, soft tone is well suited. Bluegrass musicians, on the other hand, tend to favor bright, twangy sounds of resonator banjos; adding one will reduce volume; however retro-fit kits exist which allow open-back instruments to become resonator instruments easily without losing your voice when performing bluegrass band songs.
They are louder
An open back banjo produces a very different tone compared to its resonator counterpart; however, these latter models tend to be louder due to having larger sound chambers or pots and having different designs than open back models.
Resonator banjos feature an additional bowl-shaped piece attached to their sound chamber or pot for louder and brighter tones – perfect for bluegrass music genres and jam sessions where players need to project their sound more easily. They allow virtuoso players to stand out easily during jam sessions as their sound projects more readily from these instruments.
Open-back banjos offer less powerful sound and are better suited to clawhammer style playing. Many old-time banjo players utilize sock or sponge material to control volume levels on their instrument and even remove its resonator entirely for intimate performances.
They are easier to play
Banjo can be tricky to learn quickly. To create the sound you desire, fretting the strings correctly requires lots of practice and skill – however open back models may be easier for newcomers than their resonator counterparts.
Open back banjos generally offer a more soothing tone and weigh less, plus can often be less costly than their resonator counterparts. As such, they make for great starter instruments if you want to explore various forms of banjo playing such as clawhammer.
Open-back banjos are great instruments for folk and old-timey music, and other genres that don’t require loud sounds. Resonator banjos may be more suitable if you need loud sounds in larger gatherings; otherwise an open-back banjo may be more suited as an instrument you play alone or with friends at home.
They are more expensive
Open back banjos tend to cost more than comparable guitars, yet this does not always translate to reduced sound quality. Instead, price differences could be caused by material costs, shipping expenses or just due to banjos being hand made and having higher labor content than guitars.
If you’re on a tight budget but searching for an amazing banjo at an unbeatably reasonable price, look no further than the Recording King OB-3 open back banjo. Equipped with a geared fifth string tuner and 11″ composite rim, it makes one of the best banjos under $500 on the market today – though proper setup may require professional help to do justice to its capabilities.
If you want a banjo that suits your playing style and musical preferences, visiting your local music store to try various models will give you an understanding of which is suitable. Doing this will allow you to gain more insight into which banjo will suit your individual playing style best and its sound output.