Sopris - Posted - 04/07/2025:  12:31:40

Hi,

I am greatly enjoying a Deering Clawgrass that I bought off the forum. I’m definitely working on my technique to get the best clarity and volume out of it for playing tunes and song breaks.

Will an instrument with a resonator get me a fair bit more volume in a crowded Jam situation?

I have been considering an instrument with a pop off resonator or perhaps even just a straight up Nechville bluegrass model (Athena or similar) as an addition to my banjo stable. My instructor has recommended that I take a second instrument to the Jam so…. I must obey. :)

Anyone have experience with the Moonshine and/or Hartford? I am not playing 3 finger style yet, probably next year.

Thanks!
Michelle

Rusty - Posted - 04/07/2025:  12:49:32

The Deering Hartford is an amazing sounding banjo, has a wood tone ring, deep rich tone, and will be louder with the resonator back. I recommend going to a music shop and have them play the banjos you are interested in, this is the best way to get that sound YOU are looking for in a resonator banjo. So many amazing resonator banjos, e.g., Stelling, Deering Sierra, Nechville and the list goes on and on, depends on the sound you want.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 04/07/2025:  12:55:17

FWIW—I don’t know about a metal-tone-ring Hartford, but I passed on a chance to get a popoff reso version with the grenadillo tone ring because it fell short of the punch and cut of my openback Essex Concert Grand with it’s heavy scalloped tone ring. As an aside, many players (including me) think that a ball-bearing Mastertone is the best two-way (clawhammer/bluegrass) banjo.

aaronoble - Posted - 04/07/2025:  15:35:11

...also consider a Gibson rb-00; it's a whole lot like a great open back with a resonator (and generally costs about the same as a used Hartford). I have and love both models, though Bill is certainly correct that they don't sound (or weigh) like they have tone rings; it's just a question of what you want it to sound like.

Edited by - aaronoble on 04/07/2025 15:35:35

Lew H - Posted - 04/07/2025:  18:34:18

I think resonator banjos are not louder. The resonator just throws the sound out the front, so maybe louder to the audience but not to the picker behind the pot. A resonator banjo won't sound any better than the Clawgrass IMO.

RDP - Posted - 04/07/2025:  18:38:35

A RB-100 might be what you’re looking for. Has a round brass tone ring with a resonator.

the-fish - Posted - 04/07/2025:  18:52:58

I really liked my Hartford, wouldn’t mind another
Neither one sounds like what you looking for or to accomplish

Sopris - Posted - 04/07/2025:  20:58:03

Thanks for all the insight! Its slim pickins near me for shopping but I will check out all the options I can when I visit Nashville next week. You all have given me some very different ideas than I started with. :)

I did add a Tone Guard and a taller Scorpion bridge to my Clawgrass. Will be curious if my jam friends notice a difference or if its just louder out the back. :)

Mark D - Posted - 04/07/2025:  21:19:07

The 24-fret Hartford with the standard resonator has the same "-06 20 hole bell bronze" tone ring as the Clawgrass models, but has a thinner maple neck rather than the wide walnut neck of the Clawgrass.



I have a 90's pop-on resonator Hartford and a 24-fret model from 2018. They produce different tones from each other.



Never played a Nechville or the Clawgrass, but listening on-line I'd say the tone of my 24-fret Hartford is closer to the Clawgrass than the tone of the pop-on Hartford.

If I owned a Clawgrass I'd try to borrow a resonator and rig it to the Clawgrass to see what type of a difference it made playing the same tunes with and without it.

Edited by - Mark D on 04/07/2025 21:21:04

Texasbanjo - Posted - 04/08/2025:  04:23:26

If you're picking with a bluegrass group, you will need a resonator banjo in order to be heard over the screechy fiddles and loud dreadnaughts. Open backs just can't produce the volume necessary to do just that.

Bob Buckingham - Posted - 04/08/2025:  05:07:14

quote:

---

Originally posted by Texasbanjo

If you're picking with a bluegrass group, you will need a resonator banjo in order to be heard over the screechy fiddles and loud dreadnaughts. Open backs just can't produce the volume necessary to do just that.

---

Add to the above recommendations, use finger picks for more volume. Yes they make them or you can make them for clawhammer.  I would think a loud 12" pot with a high quality tone ring w/o resonator would give you your best shot. I had an Ome with their silver spun tone ring that would hang in most bluegrass jams. It sure was bright and LOUD. I also have a young friend who plays a Huber banjo clawhammer and sounds great.

Pick-A-Lick - Posted - 04/08/2025:  06:00:27

Nechville offers three tone ring options that can be easily swapped into almost any of their banjos:



1) Timbertronic (lightweight wood)



.com/products/nechvil...tone-ring



2) Hybrid (Timbertronic ring with a lightweight metal tone hoop

nechville.com/products/nechvil...tone-ring

3) full weight bronze tone ring

nechville.com/products/nechvil...tone-ring



There are YouTube videos available that compare these tone rings



I have the lightweight Hybrid ring as well as full weight bronze ring in resonator banjos, both of which can crank out serious volume.

Nechville banjo necks have a reputation as being very comfortable to play.



It may be helpful if you could try both Deerring and Nechville banjos before making a decision.

Edited by - Pick-A-Lick on 04/08/2025 06:02:48

Bill Rogers - Posted - 04/08/2025:  14:10:41

A 20s Vega Tubaphone has more than enough volume and you can quickly detach the reso for
openback playing. Or not; it’s a perfectly fine old-time banjo with resonator on.

Sopris - Posted - 04/08/2025:  15:09:42

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pick-A-Lick

Nechville offers three tone ring options that can be easily swapped into almost any of their banjos:



1) Timbertronic (lightweight wood)



.com/products/nechvil...tone-ring



2) Hybrid (Timbertronic ring with a lightweight metal tone hoop

nechville.com/products/nechvil...tone-ring

3) full weight bronze tone ring

nechville.com/products/nechvil...tone-ring



There are YouTube videos available that compare these tone rings



I have the lightweight Hybrid ring as well as full weight bronze ring in resonator banjos, both of which can crank out serious volume.

Nechville banjo necks have a reputation as being very comfortable to play.



It may be helpful if you could try both Deerring and Nechville banjos before making a decision.

---

@pick-a-lick, what Nech model/s are you playing?  My instructor has a Classic that I've played a couple of times.  Beyond that no other practical experience with them.  They do look good for travel.  I haven't found many samples of the Moonshine being played, particularly CH style.  Just Tom's sample vids of him playing 3 finger.

Sopris - Posted - 04/08/2025:  15:13:06

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mark D

The 24-fret Hartford with the standard resonator has the same "-06 20 hole bell bronze" tone ring as the Clawgrass models, but has a thinner maple neck rather than the wide walnut neck of the Clawgrass.



I have a 90's pop-on resonator Hartford and a 24-fret model from 2018. They produce different tones from each other.



Never played a Nechville or the Clawgrass, but listening on-line I'd say the tone of my 24-fret Hartford is closer to the Clawgrass than the tone of the pop-on Hartford.

If I owned a Clawgrass I'd try to borrow a resonator and rig it to the Clawgrass to see what type of a difference it made playing the same tunes with and without it.

---

I'll ask Deering if its possible to put one of their pop ons on the Clawgrass.  Its an interesting idea...

Pick-A-Lick - Posted - 04/08/2025:  15:44:18

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sopris

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pick-A-Lick

......I have the lightweight Hybrid ring as well as full weight bronze ring in resonator banjos, both of which can crank out serious volume.

Nechville banjo necks have a reputation as being very comfortable to play.



It may be helpful if you could try both Deerring and Nechville banjos before making a decision.

---

@pick-a-lick, what Nech model/s are you playing?  My instructor has a Classic that I've played a couple of times.  Beyond that no other practical experience with them.  They do look good for travel.  I haven't found many samples of the Moonshine being played, particularly CH style.  Just Tom's sample vids of him playing 3 finger.

---

Sopris,

I have a Nechville maple Classic Deluxe with the full weight bronze tone ring as well as a walnut Aries model with the hybrid tone ring. I play 3 finger, primarily a mix of Scruggs style, JD Crowe, Ralph Stanley, and Alan Munde. I tinker with Clawhammer but only for my own enjoyment. 

I have not played a Nechville Moonshine model but I understand they are available with any of three Nechville tone rings. A resonator model banjo will project much more than an open back in a band setting.