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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/406408
Jon Borcherding - Posted - 12/11/2025: 09:34:11
I just counted up a bunch of 5 string banjos for sale or pending on this site.
All the banjos were listed for sale over the last 10 days.
The count did not include parts but did include conversions.
There are 41 resonator banjos and 10 open-back banjos.
There was also one cigarbox banjo but I did not include it in the count.
(Nothing against cigarboxes, it just seems like its own category.)
I was surprised to find resonators outnumbering open-backs by a ratio of slightly over 4:1.
Maybe I shouldn't be surprised? Maybe you're surprised that there were so many open-backs?
What, if anything, does this say about the current state of banjo world?
Could the overrepresentation of resonators be related to increased popularity with collectors?
Or is it just because there are more resonators floating around out there?
Or are resonator related genres much more popular than those typically played on an open-back?
Is the sample size too small to develop an opinion?
Is there a seasonal factor?
Is the resonator market more active due to the bluegrass players being more likely to trade instruments?
I assume bluegrass is more popular than old time by several orders of magnitude, but other than that, I don't really have an opinion.
I'm curious what you guys think.
pinenut - Posted - 12/11/2025: 10:54:40
It says that open-backs sound nice in the parlor (living room). Three pound flat-heads and a resonator banjos have been refined for maximum volume and stage presence. I like 'em; just not everyday or everywhere. exception: select resonator banjos with spun/rolled ring types.
It seems that playing the banjo, in general, has been in decline for a while and that people are leaning towards play styles that are more supportive of solo use than modern three finger.
People are keeping the things that are good on all days and situations.
Edited by - pinenut on 12/11/2025 11:10:16
KCJones - Posted - 12/11/2025: 12:22:50
I think you're reading the data backwards.
More resonators sitting on the market means they're less popular. Limited inventory of open backs means they're more popular. Not the other way around.
Not many young people are interested in playing bluegrass or resonator banjos in general. Everything is clawhammer and open backs.
I would say that bluegrass is not as popular for banjo players. Possibly for listeners but definitely not for players.
martyjoe - Posted - 12/11/2025: 12:27:34
It would be interesting to see what a few dealers have to say about this.
mrphysics55 - Posted - 12/11/2025: 12:33:45
Currently There Are:
5-String Resonator (239)
5-String Openback (106)
4-String (43)
Ads Listed In The Hangout
This Ratio Of Ads Has Been Fairly Steady For Quite Sometime.
Jon Borcherding - Posted - 12/11/2025: 12:36:05
quote:
Originally posted by KCJonesI think you're reading the data backwards.
I had not really reached any conclusion, but you do make an excellent point.
Jon Borcherding - Posted - 12/11/2025: 12:38:19
quote:
Originally posted by mrphysics55Currently There Are:
5-String Resonator (239)
5-String Openback (106)
4-String (43)
Ads Listed In The Hangout
This Ratio Of Ads Has Been Fairly Steady For Quite Sometime.
That's interesting. How would you account for the sudden shift in ratio over the last 10 days?
Or perhaps your position is the sample is to small?
mrphysics55 - Posted - 12/11/2025: 15:10:21
Perhaps the sample size accounts for the difference from long term trends.
Keep an eye out as more time may show a shifting trend.
tonygo - Posted - 12/11/2025: 16:49:34
quote:
Originally posted by KCJonesI think you're reading the data backwards.
More resonators sitting on the market means they're less popular. Limited inventory of open backs means they're more popular. Not the other way around.
Not many young people are interested in playing bluegrass or resonator banjos in general. Everything is clawhammer and open backs.
I would say that bluegrass is not as popular for banjo players. Possibly for listeners but definitely not for players.
Clawhammer players, do you own any Resonator banjos, how many? Bluegrassers do you own any open back banjos, how many? Me a clawhammer and own two BG banjos. I love the sound of Resonated banjos.
R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 12/12/2025: 23:34:04
quote:
Originally posted by KCJonesI think you're reading the data backwards.
Certainly an interesting idea, but I would tend to think that the resonated banjo market is just that much larger concerning both buyers and sellers.
In my experience, the Bluegrassers have always far outnumbered he Old-Timey folks
KCJones - Posted - 12/13/2025: 05:29:00
I wouldn't say that the surge in open-back banjos is driven by (festival style) old time music. Most young players I see are more singer-songwriter types, or 'folk' music. They do enjoy playing a few of the classics but that's not their focus as musicians. But really this is just based on observations with YouTube, reddit, and Facebook content, which could be very different than reality, and is catered to the individuals tastes.
I tend to be at more old timey 'traditional music' gatherings, square dances, that type of thing, so obviously I'm not going to see as much bluegrass.
I'd be curious to see what the real numbers are but I expect only dealers/manufacturers would be able to tell us, and they're probably not going to do that. But we could look at the number of open-back makers compared to the number of resonator makers, and look at the product lineups for each type, and infer some things. It does seem like the trend is towards open back, in that regard.
My guess, and it's just a guess, is that there's more fans/listeners for bluegrass (because it's a performative/commercial style) but there's more players for old time (because it's a participatory style).
Edited by - KCJones on 12/13/2025 05:31:32
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