Interesting video, but I can’t really tell a difference. I’ve heard more difference between bridges, strings, heads, head tension, picks, etc, on the same banjo. Kudos to the set up guy, for getting two banjos that close.

It's our technician, Tara!

youtu.be/HY0mVOMdZYc

I think they sound different.  Maple has more bite.  

When I tested neck woods on the same pot, i.e., attached to the one, single pot set up the same, maple and mahagony were at the far ends of the set, which included walnut and white oak.  Even non-banjo player could hear differences, although ditinguishing maple and white oak was the most difficult.  The distinctions may be banjo folklore, but that doesn't mean it's not true.

For more than you probably want, see https://www.its.caltech.edu/~politzer/neck-wood/neck-wood.pdf.

Maple may have more bite, but I prefer the depth of the sound of the mahogony. Maple sounded a little thin in comparison. 

quote:

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Originally posted by davidppp

I think they sound different.  Maple has more bite.  

When I tested neck woods on the same pot, i.e., attached to the one, single pot set up the same, maple and mahagony were at the far ends of the set, which included walnut and white oak.  Even non-banjo player could hear differences, although ditinguishing maple and white oak was the most difficult.  The distinctions may be banjo folklore, but that doesn't mean it's not true.

For more than you probably want, see https://www.its.caltech.edu/~politzer/neck-wood/neck-wood.pdf.

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That is wonderfully deep in the weeds!

When it came time to buy my Sierra I agonized over mahogany vs maple.  I finally decided since I eat maple syrup on my oatmeal regularly, and live near the American Maple Museum (https://maplemuseumcentre.org/index.php) and am surrounded by maple trees, I better go with the maple.
It was the right decision!

Thanks for sharing this David, very interesting.

quote:Originally posted by davidpppI think they sound different. Maple has more bite.

When I tested neck woods on the same pot, i.e., attached to the one, single pot set up the same, maple and mahagony were at the far ends of the set, which included walnut and white oak. Even non-banjo player could hear differences, although ditinguishing maple and white oak was the most difficult. The distinctions may be banjo folklore, but that doesn't mean it's not true.

For more than you probably want, see its.caltech.edu/~politzer/neck...wood.pdf.

They both sound good although different. Mahogany sounds fuller and more attractive to my ears, but that may be because my main banjo is mahogany. Thanks for posting.