Open back banjo

An open back banjo is a banjo with no resonator (sound projectile accessory).

Open-back banjos generally have a mellower tone, weigh less, and can be less expensive than resonator banjos. They usually have a different setup than a resonator banjo, often with a higher string action (string action refers to how high the strings are positioned above the fingerboard). Open-back players use metal, nylon, or gut strings, depending on the style of music they're playing, how their instrument is set up, and the sound they want to get from their banjos. Several manufacturers have entry-level open-back banjos with the same sound chamber (or pot) and overall design and construction as a matching resonator model. However, more-expensive open-back banjos likely have a different configuration of metal and wood than a resonator banjo. [http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-5436.html Banjo For Dummies, by Bill Evans]

References

* [http://www.banjofrailer.com Open Back Banjo Music]