Resonator Banjos

An open-back banjo has no back plate, giving it a warmer, quieter, more "old-time" voice — the standard choice for clawhammer and frailing styles. A resonator banjo adds a wooden back that projects the sound forward, delivering the volume and cut bluegrass pickers need to hold their own in a jam.

Yes! A banjo's head tension and bridge placement make or break its tone, and factory setups rarely get them right. Every banjo from The Acoustic Shoppe — new or used — gets our exclusive 23-Point Professional Setup: head tension, bridge placement, action, and intonation dialed in by our techs before it ships.

The Deering Goodtime series is our go-to recommendation: American-made, lightweight, and built with quality that won't fight you while you learn. Start with the open-back Goodtime for old-time styles, or the Goodtime Two if you want a resonator for bluegrass.

A 5-string banjo is the standard for bluegrass and old-time music — its short drone string creates the classic banjo sound. 4-string tenor and plectrum banjos are tuned differently and shine in Irish traditional music, Dixieland jazz, and chord-melody playing.

We want you to be 100% happy with your purchase. Our Dread-Not Guarantee includes free shipping on most orders, a generous return policy, and our promise that your instrument has been inspected and set up by our team of pros. We also offer a 1-year trade-up policy on select instruments.