Hi all,
Thanks for the input!
I do always check out other players banjos, and keep a mental note, but that's so subjective. I would like to have a bunch of different banjos lined up and just go down the line playing each one. I understand setup and strings and all make a huge difference, but I would like to start with one that is inherently louder from the get go, then set it up well.
The Merlin banjo sounds ... interesting. I'd ike to try that.
I know stelling has made some openbacks, I imagine they are wicked loud, but I have never heard one.
Don't get me wrong, I love the tone of a nice banjo, but for some of my gig situations, loud is nice, and it allows me to play a bit less heavily than if I'm trying to be heard on a quiet instrument.
One weekly gig I do in Boston is a completly acoustic gig in a crowded Irish pub.