I've been going back and forth for some time now looking at banjos. I love bluegrass; I love old time music. I play guitar, and very occasionally get to play with others. I like the sharp attack of a maple resonator banjo and deep plunky sound of a 12" open back with a skin head. It's all cool. However, as I watch banjo pickers and listen carefully to banjo music, I have to say that I am particularly intrigued by the playing of Stringbean and Grandpa Jones from the 50's and 60's. See here: http://youtu.be/8uOy3WdT3mY and here: http://youtu.be/8hRuTE1DOrE The thing is that they are both frailing on resonator banjos!
So, I'm wondering if someone can explain this to me. Was their playing something of an anomaly (a blip so to speak) in the developmental history of banjo playing? Why don't we see much like it today?
For my own sake, I recognize that if most of my playing will be solo, or with my daughter playing fiddle (and eventually, my son on an instrument of his choosing), a clawhammer style might work best, but would it be out of place to buy a good resonator banjo with the intent of frailing?
Sorry, I guess this is a mixed--style, history, and purchase advice question, but this is what I'm wondering! Thanks!
