I was a teenager (yes, I actually was one once, in another century) when I first ran into S.S. Stewarts. I learned then that they were the open backed (non-bluegrass) banjo of choice. Always a sweet, gentle, mountain sound. I wish I could afford one today. You can always shove a rolled up sock between the head and the brace and produce a muted sound that won't wake the children in the middle of the night ... which is when ALL dedicated banjo players practice ... right? CHEERS, Bob