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Subject: choosing a 5 string banjo
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 23:21:30 -0800

Dear Mickey,

I have been playing the banjo for several years. I have a very inexpensive model 5-string and mostly play bluegrass tunes.
I feel its time to move up to better quality of instrument. I'm leaning toward a Gibson, but I have a few questions. first of all, what is the difference between an archtop, and a top-tension banjo? Are there any other such differences I should be aware of before I make the purchase? I am a self taught picker and have used a few learning C.D.'s. Although the price could be an issue, I think that by moving up to a higher end instrument will bring me greater pleasure and also enhance my skills, not to mention the potential of increasing value. Can you help?
P.S this is my first time on this site and I think it's great!
David

Greetings David,

My take on this is that the archtop is a good banjo when playing in a bluegrass context. For, it's a very trebly instrument due to the diameter of the banjo head being smaller...by riding on the tone ring in a smaller circumference. Great for lead and projection and slicing through a large acoustic band...not a good all-around banjo...especially when playing solo or with one other guitar.

A top tension is designed to access the tightening of the banjo head from the outside...this makes the rim heavier and does contribute to the tonal range in a different way...more subtly than an archtop. However, it's still a great banjo for soloing and versatility.

Mickey

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Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 18:47:04 EDT

i love the look of the MGB-1 but really i am looking for ANY manufacturer
that you carry that offers an archtop tonering in one of their banjos. Could
you help me with that at all?

Ralph

Greetings Ralph,

Archtop banjos are a rare breed. A very specialized banjo that fits well within a Stanley-Style Bluegrass setting.

I've checked with Deering, and they do offer the archtop for an additional 100.00 for any model they make other than the Goodtime series or the Boston....We just recently sold two used Alvarez-type Archtops...both had a very trebly, higher pitched sound due to the smaller circumference of the banjo head being isolated by the Archtop tone ring.

Wish you the best in your research efforts.

Mickey

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