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This particular page was created 28/11/2004 and last updated 17/05/2005
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| | Most, but not all, banjos have a tone ring, a metal ring running around the top of the rim and supporting the head. The tone ring is the source of much banjo mythology. Banjoists never tire of discussing the pros and cons of different designs and there's no doubt that it contributes significantly to the instrument's sound. I won't go into details, but here's a quick and rather rough overview: - Light-weight, plain tone rings
- The main reason why cheap banjos sound cheap.
- Plain quality tone rings
- Usually made from heavy brass and with a smooth, even surface. Favoured by many "no-nonsense" banjoists.
- "Classic" tone rings
- The Whyte Ladie tone ring, the tubaphone, the Mastertone, the Bacon FF...
These fancy tone rings are an important reason why all these legendary banjos have their own unique and wonderful sound. - Archtop tone rings
- An archtop tone ring has a flange around its inside that reduces the head's effective diameter (and increases the tone chamber's volume) giving a very crisp but still full sound and a sharp attack. It's favoured by many Irish banjoists including legendary names like Barney McKenna and Gerry O'Connor.
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