Don’t overlook Deerings open back, full tone ringed banjos. Steve Martin plays a Clawgrass model with his band, which is WAY out of my financial league, but Deering also makes a Sierra open back, which has the same tone ring. It’s 3 pounds lighter than the resonator version, and combined with the center of gravity being closer to your body, makes all the difference in the world. I found one in the classifieds here for $1400, and it is louder than every wood tone ringed, tone hoop, resonator banjo I’ve owned. I play it with my band, and have plenty of head room, even with the single mic set up we’ve recently gone to. I keep saying it here… I can’t believe this configuration isn’t wildly more popular.

Currently, there is a 1971 Vega-Martin VIP resonator banjo for sale on the Marketplace.

https://www.banjohangout.org/classified/113968

These are well made, undervalued resonator banjos that are solid cross over players for old time, folk and bluegrass (I speak from the experience of having owned one).  They have a modified Tubaphone tone ring, which puts the weight at about 9 lbs, as opposed to the ~13 lbs of a Mastertone/Masterclone resonator banjo.  The VIP will be brighter as well as louder than you your typical open back, but to my ear it is mellower than a Mastertone/Masterclone.

Bill Huntley, who is offering the VIP for sale has posted a demo video (link in the ad), but also here is a playlist of my videos playing my 1975 VIP in various styles, including clawhammer. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL00z9mDkwwfcbWZF4X_gwxaneN9Gq88y3

If you can find one, a 1960s Vega Ranger or Vega Wonder would be good for your purposes. They still come up for sale from time to time.

A Gibson RB-100. As a couple of posts above indicated, you will almost surely be better off with a used banjo—more bang for your buck and essentially no depreciation. Be patient and you’ll find one.

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Originally posted by BoneDigger

I have several good open back banjos for clawhammer but I'm having a hard time being heard in a moderate sized jam session. I purchased an RK R20 songster and did some upgrades (tuners, ren head, tailpiece) and it's not a bad banjo for this, but I wouldn't mind something a little better. I'd love to get a Deering Hartford but I don't have nearly $6k for such a banjo. 

Follow Dean's advice and get any open-back or convertible with a three-ply rim and full weight flathead (note: use a frosted or suede head).  They have a moderate weight penalty, no extra bulk. are loud, controllable and sound great.

For really loud, find a Deering Boston or an earlier incarnation.  Tone may be questionable...

The GT OB 250LW seems to be a similar concept but much cheaper. Has anyone here played one? Thoughts on it's loudness and tone?  Volume happens with a metal ring or to a lesser extent a very-dense hardwood specialty ring; three ply is nice but it can't do the job by itself.

I do understand about playing louder on my open back and that the tone won't be the same. I totally get that. I do know that Grandpa Jones and a few others did just fine with a heavy resonator banjo, but I really don't want that weight.

So,thoughts on a loud but relatively lightweight banjo that won't break the bank or my back? Any thoughts on the OB250LW (Light Weight)?  meh.

Or am I just as well to stay with the RK R20?  

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The best volume booster for the buck is a wound third string with mediums. 

This has worked well for me and sounds better too.  

specifics:  https://www.banjohangout.org/blog/37187

As said above if you can find one -

#1 - Try and find an early 60’s Gibson RB170. Will absolutely do the job and sound good in the process.

#2 - Early 60’s Vega resonator models. Can be set up to fit right in.

Both really good choices that won’t break the bank.

When I was a young banjo player a lot of the old timers had Japanese banjos with resonators from the local music store. They bought what the perceived to be the best banjos they could afford. They usually sound great in a clawhammer and old time finger styles. They did not have the brash sound of the heavier bluegrass models. They can be had quite affordably compared to a new banjo.

quote:

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Originally posted by BoneDigger

The GT OB 250LW seems to be a similar concept but much cheaper. Has anyone here played one? Thoughts on it's loudness and tone?

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Having played, and been impressed by, the similar-in-concept RK-R25 years ago, I would expect the OB-250LW to sound pretty good. I just watched a video demo, and I think it does.

For maybe $200 less, Gold Tone offers something similar to -- but possibly better than -- the RK-R20 Songster. The new OB100 is an homage to the 1950s-60s Gibson RB-100: Three-ply rim, one-piece flange, but a brass rod tone hoop instead of a full-weight flathead tone ring. While the tone hoop makes it similar to the RK-20, the three-ply rim and one-piece flange elevate it above that.

Go to Gold Tone's site and search it out. You might like what you see -- and hear.