An open-back banjo is similar to a resonator banjo in appearance, but the back of the instrument is open. There are other subtle differences between an open-back banjo and a closed-back, resonator banjo, aside from the open back to the sound chamber. The strings on an open-back banjo usually have a higher action than those on a closed-back banjo. This means the strings are higher off the fingerboard than they are on most other stringed instruments. Open-back banjos are known for having a mellower tone, are lighter in weight, and can be less expensive than resonator or closed-back banjos.
The open-back banjo was used in some of the first versions of the banjo. With the passage of time, some musicians attempted to increase the banjo’s volume adding a closed back, also known as a resonator. The sound was forced out of the front of the instrument the closed back, which made the tone a little more twangy. However, many banjo players prefer the open-back banjo because of its simplicity, softer and mellower tone, and lighter weight when compared to a closed-back model.
The type and style of music being played usually determines whether a closed-back or open-back banjo is used. Open-back banjo players can now amplify the sound produced the instrument to match the level of the other players in the band thanks to modern amplification. The musician’s choice of open-back or closed-back banjo is thus left to personal preference. Some players prefer a closed-back banjo, which can be easily converted to an open-back version removing a few thumbscrews and the resonator from the back of the instrument.
Because of the lighter weight of the instrument, an open-back banjo is frequently recommended for beginning banjo players. Some customers are attracted to the open-back, beginner’s banjo because of its lower cost. However, not all open-back versions of the five-string instrument are cheap. Some open-back models are on par with or even more expensive than resonator models. This is due, in part, to the use of more expensive, exotic woods and different metals in the open-back banjo’s construction as opposed to the resonator model’s.