5 String Banjo: A Complete Buyer's Guide

There is something in the weight of a banjo that tells you whether you have picked up the right one. Not the price, not the label on the headstock — the feel of it, the way the pot sits against your body, the sound that rises when you brush the strings. Buying a 5-string banjo is an exercise in listening as much as shopping, and this guide is here to help you listen well before you spend.

Resonator or Open-Back: The First Decision

Every five-string banjo falls into one of two camps, and you need to know which before you look at anything else.

• Resonator banjo — the curved wooden bowl on the back reflects sound forward, making the instrument louder and more projecting. The tone is bright and cutting, with a fast attack. This is the bluegrass instrument: designed to cut through a loud session of fiddle, mandolin and bass without amplification. Typically played three-finger Scruggs-style with metal fingerpicks.
• Open-back banjo — no resonator. The sound sits more inward, warmer and less sustaining. This is the old-time and clawhammer instrument. Quieter in ensemble settings, lighter to carry, and generally a gentler presence. Favoured for folk sessions where the dynamics are lower and the music more intimate.

The rule is simple: if you want to play bluegrass, you want a resonator 5-string banjo. If you want to play clawhammer or old-time, you want open-back. If you are genuinely unsure, open-back gives you more flexibility while you find your footing — you can always add a resonator later on many models.

What Budget Gets You

The five-string market separates fairly cleanly into three tiers:

Entry Level: £150–£400

Instruments in this range are playable if set up properly, but the quality varies considerably. The tone ring may be absent or made from lightweight aluminium rather than cast bronze. Neck finish and fret work can be inconsistent. That said, a well-set-up instrument from a reliable brand — Deering Goodtime, Recording King, Gold Tone — in this range will genuinely serve a beginner well. Avoid no-name instruments under £150: they tend to have poor intonation and unplayably high action.

Mid Range: £400–£900

This is where the quality jump becomes audible. Better hardware, more consistent neck work, and a proper tone ring make a real difference to sustain and projection. The Gold Tone IT-17 open-back and Deering Goodtime Two resonator sit here. An intermediate player will find these instruments rewarding for years.

Serious Investment: £900 and Up

At this level you are buying instruments with carved maple pots, properly fitted heads, quality Remo or Fiberskyn heads, and hardware that does not need immediate replacement. Deering's Sierra or Eagle II, or a used American Bluegrass instrument, will hold their value and reward a player who has committed to the instrument.

What to Examine Before Buying

Whether buying new or used, check these things in person or ask the seller specifically:

• Action — the height of the strings above the frets. Too high and fretting is painful; too low and the strings buzz. On a well-set-up instrument, the action at the twelfth fret should be 3–4 mm. If a shop instrument has action you could park a lorry under, it needs a setup before you play it; budget for that.
• Head tension — tap the head and listen. A properly tensioned head rings clearly and evenly around the rim. A loose head sounds dull and unclear. Head replacement is easy, but it is an indicator of how well the instrument has been maintained.
• Neck straightness — sight down the neck from the headstock. It should be straight or with the very slightest relief (gentle bow toward the strings). A warped neck is a significant problem.
• Fret wear — on a used instrument, look at the frets in first position. Deep grooves mean the instrument has been played heavily; refret work is expensive.
• Tone ring — ask whether it is present and what it is made of. A cast bronze tone ring is a quality indicator in most bluegrass banjos. Open-back folk and old-time instruments often lack one, which is fine and intended.

New or Second-Hand?

The second-hand market for the 5-string banjo is generally healthy. Because they are sturdy instruments, a used banjo at mid-range price often represents better value than a new entry-level one. Bluegrass players who upgrade frequently part with good instruments at honest prices. Old-time players tend to be attached to their instruments and upgrade less often.

When buying second-hand, budget a modest amount for a professional setup regardless of condition. Even a good instrument benefits from fresh strings, a head check, and bridge adjustment.

Strings, Heads and Accessories

Your first 5-string banjo should come with strings already fitted, but you will want to replace them soon. D'Addario EJ60 or GHS PF135 light gauge strings are reliable starting points for most styles. Heavier gauges suit loud bluegrass playing; lighter gauges suit clawhammer and old-time.

A banjo strap, a capo (standard guitar capo plus a fifth-string spike or capo), and a hard case or padded gig bag round out the essentials. Fingerpicks — metal thumb pick and plastic finger picks — are needed only for Scruggs-style; clawhammer is played with the bare hand.

The Bottom Line

The single most useful thing you can do before buying is listen to recordings of the style you want to play. If you are drawn to bluegrass, your instrument will have a resonator; if clawhammer and old-time speak to you more, open-back is your answer. For a thorough introduction to what you are buying, our overview of the instrument covers how everything works. For specific instrument recommendations by budget, our best picks guide covers the market. And if you are just starting out, our beginner's guide takes it from the very beginning.

Frequently Asked Questions