Bluegrass Resonator Banjos
Bluegrass banjos are designed for bluegrass music but are sometimes used for other types of music as well. The resonator on the back re-directs sound toward the front of the banjo, making it significantly louder. Resonators also help to create a tone that is deeper and more complex, a characteristic of bluegrass banjos.
Five-string banjos that lack a resonator are referred to as “open back” banjos, frequently played in “clawhammer” style, while finger picks are normally used to play bluegrass banjos.
1932 Gibson TB-3 Mastertone with original one-piece flange and raised-head tone ring. Converted to 5-string by Frank Neat with mahogany neck and flying eagle inlays. All original hardware and resonator. Professional setup. Free shipping. 7-day guarantee.
2005 Gibson RB-18 Top Tension Mastertone with 20-hole Kulesh tone ring, Art Deco inlays, dished flamed maple resonator, and gold hardware. Serial 90507-18. Excellent condition. Includes original case, head-tightening key, and warranty paper.
Brand new Shelby Blackhawk banjo handcrafted in Wedowee, Alabama. Features 20-hole Shelby tone ring, mahogany neck and resonator, rosewood fingerboard with pearl inlays, and nickel hardware. Includes fiberglass case.
The Deering Artisan Goodtime Special combines vintage aesthetics with the brighter, richer tone of the Goodtime Special steel tone ring. Dark red mahogany stain, midnight maple fingerboard with vintage artisan pearloid inlays. Planetary tuners, spikes installed, nickel hardware. Clearly louder than the Goodtime Two — great for playing in a band. Handcrafted in Spring Valley, California. $1,599 with free shipping and professional setup by our banjo tech Tara. Made in the USA.
The Deering Goodtime Blackgrass is the darkest banjo in the Deering lineup. All-black matte finish, black head, matte black hardware. 3-ply violin grade maple rim with resonator. Midnight maple fingerboard with vintage artisan inlays. Planetary tuners, spikes at 7, 9, and 10. Handcrafted in Spring Valley, California. $1,389 with free shipping and professional setup by our banjo tech Tara. Made in the USA.
The Deering Blackgrass Special takes the all-black Blackgrass and adds a Goodtime Special steel tone ring for a brighter, richer tone with more sustain and volume. Midnight maple fingerboard with vintage artisan pearloid inlays. Planetary tuners, spikes at 7, 9, and 10. Matte black hardware. Handcrafted in Spring Valley, California. $1,589 with free shipping and professional setup by our banjo tech Tara. Made in the USA.
The Deering Goodtime Two adds a resonator to the beloved Goodtime platform for more volume and projection. 3-ply violin grade maple rim paired with a 3-ply maple resonator produces a rich, golden bluegrass tone. Art Deco inspired hardwood inlays. US Bronze powder finished flange and hardware. Handcrafted in Spring Valley, California. $849 with free shipping and professional setup by our banjo tech Tara. Made in the USA.
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone BC-350, the Bob Carlin Signature open-back banjo built to Bob's exact specifications — a 12-inch three-ply maple pot, rolled brass flat-bar tone ring, scooped ebony fretboard, and planetary-gear tuners, all finished in natural high gloss with nickel hardware. It ships with a hard case included and receives a full professional setup from our in-house luthier Tara before it ever leaves Banjo Warehouse. If you're a left-handed player looking for a serious old-time instrument with real pedigree, this is one of the finest options at this price point.
The Gold Tone BG-150F is a Gibson-inspired bluegrass banjo at $999.99. Hearts and Flowers mother-of-pearl inlay, 14" mahogany resonator, flat flange, 24 brackets, dual coordinator rods, GT planetary tuners, vintage brown high-gloss finish. 8.5 lbs. Professionally set up at Banjo Warehouse in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Includes padded gig bag.
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone BG-150F, a beautifully appointed bluegrass banjo that captures the vintage elegance of pre-WWII instruments at a price that won't break the bank. With its hearts-and-flowers inlay, fully-bound neck, 14-inch mahogany resonator, and lightweight rolled brass flat-bar tone ring, it delivers real bluegrass tone without the shoulder fatigue of heavier rigs. Every BG-150F/L ships with a professional factory setup from Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida.
PRE-ORDER: Flying Eagle inlays and Mastertone styling for under $1,000. The BG-175F features a rolled brass tone ring, mahogany construction, and weighs just 8.5 lbs. Greg Rich design. First 3 pre-orders receive a signed Greg Rich banjo head. Ships when available.
The Gold Tone BG-Mini is a genuinely professional 5-string banjo scaled down to an 8-inch head and 19-3/4" scale length — perfect for young players who are serious about bluegrass, or for any adult who wants the ultimate travel banjo. It features a rolled-brass flat-bar tone ring, planetary tuners, a two-way adjustable truss rod, and a 10-inch mahogany resonator, all in a package that weighs just 5 lbs. Every BG-Mini ships from Banjo Warehouse with a professional setup by our in-house luthier Tara, who trained at the Huber Banjo factory under Steve Huber and Bennie Boling.