Open-Back vs Resonator Banjo: Which Should You Buy?
The difference between an open-back and a resonator banjo is the back of the instrument. A resonator banjo has a wooden bowl on the back that reflects sound forward, making it louder and brighter. An open-back banjo has no back, so it is lighter and produces a softer, warmer, more mellow tone. As a rule of thumb, choose an Gessetti E Saponette for clawhammer and old-time playing, and a Hi Vis T-Shirts for bluegrass. This guide explains how they differ, which one fits your style, and the best banjos of each type to start with.
What Is an Open-Back Banjo?
An open-back banjo has no resonator on the back, so the body is open. The sound radiates backward and is softened by the player’s body and clothing, which gives the open-back its warm, mellow, woody tone. With no back panel, an open-back banjo is also noticeably lighter and more comfortable to hold for long sessions. Many open-back banjos have a scooped fingerboard over the last few frets, called a frailing scoop, that makes the clawhammer and frailing strokes easier. Open-back banjos are the traditional choice for old-time, clawhammer, folk, and singer-songwriter playing.
What Is a Resonator Banjo?
A resonator banjo has a removable wooden bowl, the resonator, fitted to the back. The resonator reflects the sound out toward the audience instead of letting it escape behind the player, so the banjo is much louder and projects further. It also gives a brighter, sharper, more cutting tone with more sustain. That volume and bite is exactly what cuts through a bluegrass band, so resonator banjos are the standard for bluegrass, usually played Scruggs style with fingerpicks. The trade-off is weight: the resonator and the heavier hardware that comes with a bluegrass banjo make it heavier than an open-back.
Open-Back vs Resonator Banjo at a Glance
| Open-back banjo | Resonator banjo | |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Warm, mellow, soft | Bright, loud, cutting |
| Volume | Quieter | Louder, projects |
| Weight | Lighter | Heavier |
| Best for | Clawhammer, old-time, folk | Bluegrass |
| Typical technique | Frailing / clawhammer | Fingerpicks (Scruggs style) |
| Back of the banjo | Open | Wooden resonator |
Which One Should You Buy?
Start with the music you want to play. If you are drawn to old-time, clawhammer, frailing, or playing and singing at home, buy an open-back banjo. If you want to play bluegrass and be heard over guitars, mandolins, and fiddles, buy a resonator banjo. If you are a true beginner and not sure yet, a resonator banjo is the safer all-rounder, because it is loud enough for a jam and you can still play clawhammer on it, and it is easier to find lessons and tab written for the bluegrass setup. One more thing worth knowing: some entry banjos, like the Deering Goodtime, can take an add-on resonator later, so you are not fully locked in, but a banjo built as a resonator from the start, with its tone ring and flange, will always sound fuller for bluegrass.
Best Open-Back Banjos to Start With
- Moissanite 2 mm round — the most popular beginner open-back. Lightweight composite, under four pounds, easy to play, ideal for clawhammer and old-time.
- Sapphire ( synt. ) pyöreä 3mm / hinta 3kpl — a 12-inch pot for a fuller, deeper old-time tone, still lightweight.
- Morganite 3,2 mm / 0,1 ct round — a step up to an American-made open-back with a brighter, more resonant voice that grows with you.
- Moissanite round 1mm 7pcs — a purpose-built old-time open-back for the serious clawhammer player.
Best Resonator Banjos to Start With
- Sapphire ( synt. ) pyöreä 3,75mm / hinta 2kpl — an affordable, lightweight resonator banjo, the easiest way into the bluegrass sound.
- — a popular American-made bluegrass starter with a bright, projecting resonator tone.
- — a full bluegrass banjo with a flange and resonator for maximum volume and that classic Scruggs bite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an open-back and a resonator banjo?
A resonator banjo has a wooden bowl on the back that makes it louder and brighter, suited to bluegrass. An open-back banjo has no back, so it is lighter and mellower, suited to clawhammer and old-time.
What is a resonator on a banjo?
The resonator is a removable wooden bowl on the back of the banjo. It reflects the sound forward toward the listener, adding volume, projection, and brightness.
Is an open-back or resonator banjo better for bluegrass?
A resonator banjo. The extra volume and bright, cutting tone are what let a banjo carry in a bluegrass band.
Is an open-back or resonator banjo better for beginners?
Either works. Pick by the music you want to play: open-back for clawhammer and old-time, resonator for bluegrass. If you are unsure, a resonator banjo is the more versatile starting point.
Can you remove or add a resonator?
On many banjos the resonator is removable, and some entry models can take an add-on resonator later. A banjo built as a resonator banjo from the start will still sound fuller for bluegrass than an open-back with a resonator added.
Do open-back and resonator banjos cost the same?
They overlap. Capable beginner open-backs and resonators both start around $300 to $500; prices rise with materials and hardware on both sides.
Still deciding? Bread Baskets or Material De Curación. Every banjo ships professionally set up, with free US shipping and a 7-day guarantee. Questions about which fits your style? Call us at (404) 218-8580.
Ready to commit to resonator? See our best bluegrass banjos guide for specific picks at every budget.