The Differences Between a Cheap and Expensive Banjo

In response to comments on one of my shorts, I show the differences in construction between an entry level banjo and a more expensive one. Hope this video is entertaining/helpful, thanks for watching!
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[@MasonCroneMusic]

The short I mentioned... kzbin.infoRUFp8jj4uHM?feature=share

[@danmurray2210]

As the owner of an aluminum "bottle cap" banjo and a "masterclone"-style banjo myself, I can say that there is a HUGE difference in sound between the thin aluminum rim and a wooden rim with a flathead tone ring. The big difference in volume doesn't come across so well in recordings, though, but it's definitely there. That all being said, there are ways to get a nice sound out of a bottle cap banjo. Omer Forster sure did.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

I think people should listen to recordings (like the one in that video) with headphones… The difference was quite noticeable (to me, at least).

[@donaldfair4259]

Mason it was nice to hear you give some credit to Jim for his contributions to your learning process .

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Jim is great!

[@donaldfair4259]

@@MasonCroneMusic yes he is !

[@jasoncothron9530]

C'mon man you gotta play them again! That way folks can hear how much better that Rogue sounds...

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Well I have two other videos where I compare them... 🤪😂

[@johncoleauthor]

Very interesting. I never would have thought there was such a difference in the construction.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Oh yeah, for sure! They're almost a different type of instrument 😂

[@dennisatkins9837]

My first banjo was an aluminum pot banjo. I now have one with a cast brass tone ring. Major difference. It’s harder to tell listening on a phone or iPad, but I could hear the difference in the video you did.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Thanks for sharing!

[@banjiddle]

I’m glad you showed the Rogue AL without a tone ring or wood. I have the open back for travel that was $150. The next Rogue up is $249.with NATO resonator. This doesn’t do much for the sound, and will cost to add on to make it sound better. The Goldtone OB250+ is a better sounding banjo with JLS, Bell bronze tone ring. The sound is more balanced and rings louder. Neither compare to my Earl Scruggs Gibson Golden Deluxe, but your paying for a Ferrari and not a Pinto!

[@elisabethemory]

You almost have 10k subs!!! Congratulations!

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Hey, thanks! Good to hear from you, feels like it's been awhile for some reason 🤔😂

[@elisabethemory]

@@MasonCroneMusic That's cause it has been a while...lol You're getting popular! Soon, I'll have to get you to sign my banjo 😂

[@aubreyragsdale8163]

He’s catching up to me very quickly. 😝

[@MasonCroneMusic]

@@aubreyragsdale8163 I may never catch you Miss Ragsdale 🤓

[@aubreyragsdale8163]

@@MasonCroneMusic Nah you will just keep trying. You’ll get there I promise. 🤓

[@charles-rl3jy]

I started with a cheap Franciscan now have a RK Elite 75 huge difference. Great video thank you Mason

[@MasonCroneMusic]

That's so cool, I played a 76 which is the same thing but a different inlay on the neck. It was a great banjo.

[@paulfoytack5267]

I don't remember the name, but my first banjo (in the 70's) had a rim made of molded plastic. I didn't know the difference. I now have a Hatfield Buckcreek and will never give it up!

[@MasonCroneMusic]

I bet those are incredible

[@JJ_TheGreat]

4:15 Wow! I never knew what the inside of a banjo looked like… So there is wood inside a banjo! Thanks for this video.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Glad you liked it!

[@Calvin.The.Unfindable]

thats an interesting comparison. nice to know why one sounds different over the other. great explanation.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Thanks!

[@josh_nailor]

Very interesting to see the difference! I got an OB250 about 2 weeks ago and compared that to my Epiphone MB100, it’s very easy to hear the differences in person too!

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Definitely, it's way bigger in person.

[@JacobgraceAnna1005]

Great video! I have a Johnson banjo and a 1970 Gibson banjo and there is a big difference!

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Oh yeah, I'm sure 😎

[@GeorgeJones1000-z3w]

thanks man, this was very helpful

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Glad to hear it!

[@michaelo1492]

I watched that video and I could DEFINITELY tell the difference in the two.

[@Steve-jf3hf]

Hi Mason, great video, well done 👍🏻! I think my banjo parts and pieces will still be good for err......maybe making something else..?? 🤔🤣🪕

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Thanks Steve!

[@AverageUser1040]

Nice video. Seems like there are a lot of $150-$200 banjos out there that are probably all coming from the same factory in China with some slight variations. I am about 4 weeks into this and got the Pyle PBJ60 to start with, happy with it to learn on but will definitely upgrade if I get good at this.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Exactly, they're all so similar haha. And there's no problem getting started on a cheap one, I only got a better one about half a year ago.

[@cynthiastrite6439]

Alsome video mason, also where is your Ibanez. You should do a short playing all three banjos

[@MasonCroneMusic]

It's currently in a case in the corner haha.

[@cynthiastrite6439]

Lol I would love to see you play fiddle with banjo picks 🤣

[@ljmproductions1]

This was cool! I just found your channel after I got inspired to pull out my banjo this morning. Definitely want to play more so I don't lose all the work I put in years ago. I have a Deering Goodtime which was my first and only banjo, and it sounds great, but it's definitely different from something like that Gold Tone. Thanks for the content! I found you and subscribed from one of your shorts, by the way 😎

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Thanks for watching and subscribing! And I'm glad you're getting back into it.

[@ljmproductions1]

@@MasonCroneMusic I've been playing about 7 years now and played a bunch the first 3 years or so but have focused more on guitar and fiddle recently. Just don't have enough time to play them all! Looks like you might know what I mean, playing multiple instruments 😁

[@JJ_TheGreat]

5:02 Yep, two (2) rods.

[@swt418]

Thanks so much for the reviews. Have you ever heard of a Danville brand banjo? I'm in the market for a moderately priced beginner instrument and I'm seeing several Danville banjo's around.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

I haven't heard of them, sorry

[@jamesandersen8116]

I played an old bottle cap for years (the banjo in my profile), fortunately my banjos have been upgraded with my playing. I have people make the "you're just paying for the name" comment to me all the time. No comparison to me, a cheap banjo sounds and feels cheap. Going to go check out your other videos now. Love those new Gold Tone banjos.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Thank you so much for sharing! I get that all the time too, they truly have no idea what they're talking about 😂

[@mikejaques6573]

Exactly.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

3:37 I am just curious: Is it possible to play a resonator banjo without the resonator being on - more like an open-back banjo (without a resonator)? If so, would it sound ok? Also, what about the reverse - could you add a resonator to an open-back resonator - and would you be able to get the same volume? In other words, is the difference between an open-back banjo and a resonator banjo ONLY the resonator or lack of a resonator - or are there additional differences in their build? Thanks.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

So I guess you kind of answered this in the video! Resonator banjos have tone rings in them, to help project more - whereas open-back banjos do not, correct?! Thanks.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

The resonator makes it project more, the tone ring is for, well, tone 😂 Typically you couldn't add a resonator to an open back banjo without modifying it, it has to have somewhere to attach

[@JJ_TheGreat]

@@MasonCroneMusic Great, thanks!

[@mikefinley4367]

Well done . Maybe, (just a thought) you'd consider becoming a luthier ? Yourcthoughts?

[@MasonCroneMusic]

I've thought about it before, not much lately though.

[@mikefinley4367]

Don't be me and get the idea after 60. Some people's kids ... last minute Mike.

[@Joshua-gt7pz]

I can barely hear the difference, but KZbin compresses sound for streaming. That's why it's so hard to hear the difference on the Internet.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Never heard of that...

[@Joshua-gt7pz]

@@MasonCroneMusic never heard of compression? Listen to your favorite track over Bluetooth.

[@mutangpadan5311]

Hi Mason, I have this Asthon BNJ50 made in Australia, which I bought from a friend whi owns a music shop. There’s no YT review of this banjo. Price range is AUD500+. The D string do not seem to have that good sustain or resonance to it. How would you grade this?

[@Unwritten_Pages]

I got a 50's Japanese Lero plectrum banjo, I can't find much info about it but I gathered it was considered an economy brand back then but I wonder how it holds up to a modern "cheap" banjo. I might just have to take the resonator off after watching this!

[@MasonCroneMusic]

For sure, it's always fun to see what's inside! 😂

[@tedtedsen269]

many listeners cannot hear the difference between a cheap and an expensive banjo, I understand that, but the player can hear and feel the difference

[@Ryan98391]

I picked up a five string banjo for 150 dollars and it has a geared fifth string tuner and not a friction tuner. It's not amazing but not awful.

[@nizzel_]

I wonder if it would be easier to hear how different they sound from each other if you played the banjo's at different distances to the camera? 🤷

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Probably not, the best way to tell is in person.

[@tylerphilco]

I have played on a $20 pos from a flea market for 25 years. I can play it fine and it sounds like a banjo but I just now got a proper OME and it’s just night and day on the playability. I feel like Scruggs himself on this thing compared to the flea market Lotus.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

It definitely makes a difference!

[@JohnSims3]

I have a Fender bottlecap just like Stringbean! :D

[@jmills60]

Are they the same size heads?

[@MasonCroneMusic]

I believe so.

[@GuruishMike]

Awesome.

[@jbmows]

I thought you were going to play them again!😭🤣 Haha! If people can't tell one is better quality just by looking at the construction....I mean...it's obvious

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Sorry to disappoint you 😭 Yeah, they're completely different. People didn't seem to know that 🤷‍♂️😂

[@tommaxwell429]

So what’s the deal with the OB-300? Is there something wrong with it? I think it’s beautiful, myself. Is it bling only on a poor banjo?

[@MasonCroneMusic]

I haven't played one... It is beautiful though. And based on parts it's probably about the same as the Gold Tones that are half the price so it's probably a bit overpriced.

[@adventuresofmoonman]

Currently playing a cheap banjo to learn on but I’m gonna upgrade. Not sure which one I’m gonna get. My budget is 800$ - $1200. Any suggestions ? Also I played a Washburn that was a few steps up from mine and I could tell the difference especially how comfortable it was to play

[@MasonCroneMusic]

I would go for the Recording King RK 35 if that's your budget

[@1101nz]

Can you get lower string height without fret buzz on the more expensive one?

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Yes, you have to do truss rod adjustments. You can do it on the cheap one too but it's more limited.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

5:42 Really? LOL 😂😂😂 People need to practice active listening techniques… And listen with headphones! :-

[@johnpaulhumphrey2981]

OK, but it just doesn't match the 88 key variety in terms of range of expression

[@MasonCroneMusic]

I have no idea what that means 😁

[@paulfoytack5267]

@@MasonCroneMusic Piano

[@timothythornburgh9515]

Will a expensive banjo make me sound better?

[@MasonCroneMusic]

It depends on your experience level, typically not much for a beginner.

[@dhjoubert39]

I saw a Bigfoot in the forest behind you.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

That was probably a goat. And if it was a Bigfoot it’s not nice to give him away.

[@dhjoubert39]

@@MasonCroneMusic Hahaha 😆 nice channel, keep it up.

[@dhjoubert39]

I ordered the Ibanez B200 today. Never played Banjo before. See how it goes.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

@@dhjoubert39 Have fun!

[@VinnieParsons-e4x]

You should learn dueling banjos

[@MasonCroneMusic]

I have several videos of it...

[@johnpaulhumphrey2981]

Chuck that thing in the bin and get yourself a bagpipe if you really want to suceed in life

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Might be a good idea.

[@fernandovelazquez-alvarez4222]

How can you succeed in life by having in a bag your pipe? If it hadn't been for Cotton Eyed Joe I wouldn't have been picking a fifth string banjo!