Resonator Banjos are a type of banjo featuring a metal resonator which projects and amplifies the instrument’s sound, making them louder and brighter than open-back versions, making them suitable for performing in front of an audience.
Even with all their advantages, banjos may be difficult for beginners to learn. To make learning simpler, find one that matches both your music style and budget needs.
Sound
Metal resonator banjos are designed to amplify and project their sound, making them perfect for genres such as bluegrass that require high volumes.
Resonators help the banjo maintain its tone for longer, which is especially helpful for beginners learning the instrument. Resonators can be removed for practicing purposes or used to dampen its sound considerably, providing greater sound dampening capabilities.
Resonators aren’t essential to playing banjo, but they can enhance its sound and increase versatility. Unfortunately, however, resonators add weight and cost; for musicians on a budget this may present issues. It is therefore crucial that musicians find an affordable banjo with quality sound; these differ between open-back banjos and resonator banjos in terms of sound output and affordability.
Design
Resonator banjos feature a curved bowl attached to the back of their pots that projects sound forward towards its audience, making it much louder than banjos without resonators. Musicians who specialize in bluegrass prefer using such banjos.
Resonator banjos feature several other elements that can affect their sound, such as its bridge and strings. A bridge is a wooden piece over which strings travel from head to tailpiece while strings are metal wires stretched across both bridge and head to produce sound and provide its vibrations.
If this is your first resonator banjo purchase, make sure that the neck fits comfortably and its quality of construction is high. A great example is the Rover RB-20T Resonator Tenor Banjo which boasts high-grade materials as well as 22 press-in nickel-silver frets on a natural ebony fretboard for beginners.
Weight
Resonator banjos add weight, which makes playing for extended periods more challenging for beginners and limits its sound to only specific tones and articulations ranges.
However, resonator banjos can be useful tools when it comes to playing bluegrass or other genres that require loud music. Furthermore, these unique instruments make great additions to a musical composition by adding complex sounds.
Resonator banjos feature a back that directs sound forward towards an audience, increasing volume. They’re ideal for public performances where volume increases dramatically; you could also add a pickup for additional volume boost, although this might limit sound quality and cost more money than anticipated.
Cost
Resonators are add-ons for banjos that help increase its volume by reflecting sound off its inner surface, projecting it forwards so more people can hear it, enabling players to play it even in noisy environments such as concert halls.
Resonator banjo prices vary significantly, from more expensive models to those more suitable to your budget. Knowing your spending limits before making a decision will ensure a successful purchase experience.
There are numerous affordable resonator banjos on the market today, such as the Deering Goodtime 2 and Goodtime Special resonator banjos. Both models are great options for beginner players and offer incredible sound at a reasonable cost. The Goodtime Special boasts its unique Steel Goodtime Special tone ring which delivers brighter and more powerful tones – ideal for use when living in dorms and allows users to practice without disturbing others nearby.