Recording King RKO-3S Dirty 30s Open Back Banjo
$379.99
A five-string open back banjo from Recording King’s Dirty 30s series, with a maple neck and rim, a Remo head and a satin finish. Built for old-time and clawhammer players who want a mellow, woody sound.
In stock
At a Glance
- Handedness
- Right-Handed
- Style
- Openback Banjo
- Strings
- 5
- Pickup
- No
- Made In
- China
Full Specifications
| Body & Rim | |
|---|---|
| Rim | Maple |
| Head | Remo |
| Finish | Satin |
| Neck | |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Coordinator Rod(s) | Single |
| Fretboard | |
| Fret Markers | Inlaid Dot |
| Hardware | |
| Binding | Ivory-Style |
Recording King RKO-3S Dirty 30s Open Back Banjo: Maple Neck and Rim, Remo Head
The Recording King RKO-3S is a five-string open back banjo from the Dirty 30s series, designed for old-time and clawhammer playing. Recording King pairs a maple neck with a maple rim in a satin finish and tops it with a Remo head, a combination voiced for the mellow, woody sound that suits folk and Appalachian styles.
Not sure it is the right banjo for you? Call Geoff directly at (404) 218-8580.
Why an open back?
An open back banjo has no resonator behind the pot, so the sound is not thrown forward the way it is on a bluegrass resonator banjo. The result is softer and rounder, which is why old-time and clawhammer players reach for one. Leaving off the resonator also keeps the weight down, and Recording King describes the RKO-3S as lightweight and comfortable to play.
The Build
- Open back design, five strings
- Maple neck and maple rim, satin finish
- Remo head
- Single coordinator rod, pre-installed
- Ivory-style binding
- Dot inlay fret markers
The Dirty 30s Series
Dirty 30s is Recording King’s budget line, with styling that echoes the mail-order instruments of the early twentieth century. The RKO-3S joins the RKH-05 resonator banjo and the RKOH-06 open back in the Dirty 30s banjos we carry.
Is the RKO-3S good for clawhammer?
Yes. Recording King designed it for old-time players and describes its tone as classic clawhammer: an open back maple rim under a Remo head for a mellow, woody sound.
How is it different from the RKOH-06?
The RKOH-06 is the other Dirty 30s open back we carry. It adds a traditional rolled brass tone ring and a Vega style armrest, and neither appears in the RKO-3S specifications.
Where is it made?
Recording King instruments are made in China.
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