Guide to Banjos

When it comes to choosing a banjo, many factors come into play, such as the built quality, wood, heads, and bridge. Even though banjos are reasonably-priced musical instruments, it takes both time and research to make sure that you end up with the right one. Regardless of your skill level, this guide aims to share relevant information that will help you in choosing the right banjo. Let’s begin.

Things to consider when buying a banjo

Before we begin with an in-depth review of specific banjos out there, we would like you to have a bigger picture of the things you should be looking out for before buying a banjo.

Open Back vs. Resonator

Open back banjo is a type that is usually preferred by folk musicians. Even though both may look the same, the Open Back banjo does not have a back, so there is nothing that is covering the sound chamber.

Resonator Banjo, on the other hand, has a bowl made of wood mounted onto the back of the sound chamber. This wooden bowl helps project the sound to the audience. The addition of the wooden bowl also, therefore, makes the resonator banjo weigh comparatively more.

Number of strings

Banjos come with different numbers of strings. The most popular is five-string banjos, but there are 4, 6, 12 string banjos along with fretless ones as well. The number of strings plays a vital role in producing a distinct style of music. They are available as either open-back or resonator.

Wood Type

The type of wood has a lot to do with the quality of sound produced by a banjo. Since the hoop, which is also known as the “pot” is a crucial sound-producing component, it must be made of good quality material. Therefore, carefully consider the wood quality and type of the banjo you wish to purchase.

Final Thoughts

This concludes our in-depth review of some of the best banjo brands and their products. We hope that highlighting all the prominent features of well-renowned banjo brands and their products will make your buying process easier. If you are still confused about which banjo to pick then, we would suggest the Vangoa 5-String banjo if you’re a beginner since it provides a good balance of both affordability and quality. But if you are looking for something that lasts years to come, then the Deering Goodtime 2 banjo is going to provide you everything from top-notch durability to premium sound quality.