AlpacaLips - Posted - 02/05/2012:  22:13:41

Attached are two samples of me playing two banjos I own. I'm curious to know which sound you prefer. Please reply indicating which sample you like. If you like, please describe why you chose the one you did.

I'd like to get responses without telling you what the banjos are first. (If you're curious you can probably figure it out by looking at my profile, but PLEASE VOTE FIRST, so as not to influence your objective opinion.)

Later I'll post what the banjos are. Again, I'd like objective opinions, so please do not post guesses!

Thanks!

Banjo 1 sample

Banjo 2 sample

TX2AK - Posted - 02/05/2012:  22:53:10

I'd say #2 has a little crisper sound, though they sound very similar. For my tastes, I like the 1st one a little more, though I can't really say why.

I like that Iverson arrangement of Angeline the Baker - at least it sounds like that version.

Grumpy1 - Posted - 02/05/2012:  23:06:55

  Although they both sound good I definitely prefer #1.  To my ears it has a fuller sound and a bit more low end punch.   #2 is a bit brighter and sounds a little more "shallow" is the best way I can describe it.  

janolov - Posted - 02/05/2012:  23:32:09

I prefer #1

wcstringuy32 - Posted - 02/06/2012:  00:07:17

I'm going for #1 also, little more mellow plunk that I like. I do agree that they both sound good, to each ear its own. This is a good idea, I have a few banjos but pretty much play alone most of the time due to work and home commitments. I might do my own mini survey to get some outside opinions on their sound, my playing on the other hand could use a little/lot of work so I'll have to give it some thought. 

SidBarone - Posted - 02/06/2012:  00:20:29

# 1 has a more round & broader sound to my ears..

John Gribble - Posted - 02/06/2012:  01:18:05

For solo playing, I think #1 is better, a more interesting tone. But If I were going to play a lot with others, I'd go #2. I think it would have more presence in the mix.

But really, which one do YOU like better?    It would be a hard choice. 

Winnieff - Posted - 02/06/2012:  03:34:58

I prefer #1; I like the more mellow sound.

Andy

South Hills - Posted - 02/06/2012:  03:51:19

#1 is mellow; #2 more crisp. Both sound good, but I prefer #1.......

jmod - Posted - 02/06/2012:  04:16:57

I am going to have to go with #1, I like the fuller sound. I would be willing to bet that it has fairly consistent tone up the neck as well.

YorkshireWannabeOldTimer - Posted - 02/06/2012:  04:43:22

Another vote for #1 from here.

rawspirits - Posted - 02/06/2012:  05:09:31

Number 2 sounds very much like my own banjo so I should say I prefer that one but I do like the mellow, echoey sound of number 1 more. Both nice though!

Prescott - Posted - 02/06/2012:  05:17:06

I prefer number one, for absence of high overtones. I like nylon strings for the same reason.

mbuk06 - Posted - 02/06/2012:  05:34:37

Both are nice. But they seem pretty close in tone to me. After listening a few times my vote would be for 1 only because there seems a little more boomph and bassy-ness to the fourth string. Is this a 'trick' question and it's the same banjo but with different strings?

Fathand - Posted - 02/06/2012:  05:42:24

I like #1 better by just a hair but they are both very nice sounding.

carlb - Posted - 02/06/2012:  05:55:16

I like banjo #1. It's a bit more mellow then #2 and has a better bass response though not as much as I like on a banjo.

spoonfed - Posted - 02/06/2012:  06:03:40

number 1 by a whisker, I agree it does have a fuller rounder sound.

Quartermaster James - Posted - 02/06/2012:  06:25:26

Yet another vote for #1.

ZEPP - Posted - 02/06/2012:  06:55:14

Hard to say, because played on my machine (with admittedly lousey speakers, the #2 recording seems to have an echoey sound lacking in recording #1.  Is that the banjo or a recording artifact? 

Cheers,

ZEPP

scooter46 - Posted - 02/06/2012:  06:58:42

# 1 Richer and more mellow. Larry

Ho C Ying - Posted - 02/06/2012:  07:24:10

I prefer #1.

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 02/06/2012:  07:31:15

NUMBER ONE.  Rounder, fuller sound.  Two sounds a bit on the tin die for me.

But the real important questions is what banjo do you like, and how can you do the set up to project the sound you want?

banjoholic - Posted - 02/06/2012:  07:41:29

#1

Both are bright sounding banjos. As others have said, though, #1 is more balanced across the frequency spectrum, #2 is a little thin/heavy on the high-end frequencies. As always, you can influence this to some degree through set-up.

That said, given that they both sound like banjos, they are both outstanding :)

J-Walk - Posted - 02/06/2012:  07:49:52

I'll take Door #1.

But both sound fine. The decision might be for #2 if it were a different tune, tuning, style, or player.

wpmills - Posted - 02/06/2012:  07:58:25

I say #2. Just sounds cleaner. But both sound good.

staronjeff - Posted - 02/06/2012:  08:02:01

quote:

---

Originally posted by J-Walk

I'll take Door #1.

But both sound fine. The decision might be for #2 if it were a different tune, tuning, style, or player.

---

 i agree, also may say maybe some different type of strings can make all the differences 

Emiel - Posted - 02/06/2012:  08:03:58

I like number 1 better, it sounds more complex.

mworden - Posted - 02/06/2012:  08:13:22

I'll jump on the number 1 band wagon.  

Cornflake - Posted - 02/06/2012:  08:30:07

Number 1, but both sound very nice.

plunknplinkntwang - Posted - 02/06/2012:  08:35:50

#2  - its nice and crisp

banjo bill-e - Posted - 02/06/2012:  08:37:39

Without reading any replies, I just listened and voted for the first sample. The sound was more balanced and pleasing to my ear. Both samples were played nicely, and if hearing only one I would be pleased with either. 

Kervin - Posted - 02/06/2012:  09:08:10

#1 too

corgies - Posted - 02/06/2012:  09:30:05

#1 to my ears is warm and full ....my preference.

#2 is bright and crisp ...something I find very enjoyable to hear, but it's not my preference.

bublnsqueak - Posted - 02/06/2012:  09:30:27

Tough call.

Without looking I would guess that no2 is a whyte laydie. I've been trying to calm down the overtones on mine but I'm finally playing it softer and starting to like it more.

After all that waffle I can announce that I can't help you - they both sound lovely.

Should be your decision anyway - face up to your responsibilities! ;-)

Paul

rider - Posted - 02/06/2012:  09:36:54

I like  #1.More mellow and ballanced . Frank

csbdr - Posted - 02/06/2012:  09:53:53

I'm prefering #1, for the fuller, rounder sound. I'm guessing that's the Whyte Laydie, but only cuz I've been listening to alot of the Gold Tone WL 250 and MM 150 lately (both are same other than cosmetics) preparing for a purchase decision. Probably totally wrong....

splunge - Posted - 02/06/2012:  12:12:51

They're very close to my ears but I like 2 better slightly, crisper, plunkier.

Regardless of which banjo, I wish I could play like that.  Sigh...

Edited by - splunge on 02/06/2012 12:13:25

Common Tater - Posted - 02/06/2012:  13:56:12

I like #2.  Sounds Whyte Laydieish.

whiteaker - Posted - 02/06/2012:  14:16:25

I like #1

Loganthegreat1 - Posted - 02/06/2012:  14:30:47

They both sound great to me however, I'd prefer banjo 1. It has a deeper tone which to me, sounds more old timey.

rhnewsome - Posted - 02/06/2012:  14:40:40

I like number 1. Number 2 is a little too bright for my tastes. Number 1 has the sound I associate with a good "old-time" sound, and soulds pretty close to one of my banjos.

neighbour - Posted - 02/06/2012:  14:59:32

i prefer no 1. it stirs up thoughts and feelings. no 2 just stops at my ears

Bart McNeil - Posted - 02/06/2012:  15:04:20

what he said.

pernicketylad - Posted - 02/06/2012:  15:18:16

#1....warmer/plunkier.

Paul S - Posted - 02/06/2012:  16:09:57

I prefer #1 over #2. #2 almost sounds like a bluegrass banjo or maybe a whyte ladye openback.

Paul

Hankon5 - Posted - 02/06/2012:  16:56:49

Another vote for #2. Sound is alittle cleaner and brighter. Try swiching bridges and do it again!

badcat23661 - Posted - 02/06/2012:  17:39:42

Another #1 fan.

nbanta - Posted - 02/06/2012:  18:22:39

#1.  It has slightly more character and more depth.  It might need a higher bridge to make it as crisp sounding as #2.

aeroweenie - Posted - 02/06/2012:  18:25:14

I prefer #1, #2 sounded tinny to me