What makes a good Clawhammer or "Old Time" banjo? The question is rhetorical. And compared to what? Well, a typical bluegrass banjo I guess. Full disclosure - I play both.
Now, I have my answers . . . but I am interested to open a little dialog on the topic. It seems that one of the first things people say is "Open Back," which is the same as saying "No resonator." But I say that isn't it at all (my opinion . . . and mind you I have both types)
Firstly, a resonator does not make a banjo louder . . . yes, I know everyone says it does, but that isn't "science." We cannot amplify acoustic energy without adding energy . . . "basic physics" I believe although I am certainly no Isaac Newton, that is for sure, but rather I believe it acts like porting a speaker cabinet. It both focuses the energy and it seems to accentuate response of the lower frequencies . . . but it actually does not "amplify."
OK . . . so just go with me for a moment and let us set the resonator aside for a moment. I say a good CH/OT banjo could just as well have a resonator or not. Either way . . . its fine.
OK . . . so what are the characteristics?
I say what makes a good Clawhammer / Old Time banjo is the setup.
In my not-so-scientific research, I have observed the setup preferences that most CH/OT players seem to like are as follows:
- CH/OT players mostly prefer a little higher action so the strings don't slap when playing CH and it actually makes pull-off and hammer-ons a little easier (its bouncier)
- It seems that most CH/OT players like slightly heavier bridges and a to be a bit taller . . . maybe a preference for slightly softer woods. They go for the "plunk." (me too)
- Most CH/OT players seem to prefer slightly heavier strings. The tone is different and there is less slap. I won't bring wire versus gut versus nylon into this . . . that is a whole 12 page discussion in and of itself.
- Many if not most CH/OT players like Renaissance heads, Fiberskyn heads, or Hide heads . . . but less often Frosted Mylar.
- Generally non-cast tone rings . . . or no rings. Dobson, Tubaphone, White Ladye, Hoop . . . and only rarely a bronze cast tone ring (like a Gibson Mastertone Ring) . . . but some do of course . . . but mostly not.
- 12 inch rims are very popular but then so are 11 inch rims . . . so I won't include this.
- No Knot tailpieces are very popular but so are 20 other styles of tailpieces so I will only give this a half-point in consideration.
- Some might say rim thickness . . . some like thick, some like thin . . . but it is all over the map . . . I don't see a strong preference among CH/OT players . . . so I won't include this either.
Well . . . there it is . . . I guess I am saying it is really just the first five points . . . and heck . . . if even only most of what I say is correct, then we can get there just with some new strings, a new head and a new bridge. All for 50 to 75 bucks! Not bad!