For a relentlessly "plunky" sound I used nylon guitar strings (the first is the fifth, then keep the same 1, 2,3,4, order after) and tune in down two steps (playing in E). Ya hafta drive harder and in open G it sounds so so but in G modal, WOW!. I haven't tried it in other tunings like open C (which would be A). I like the sound although I don't know if any one else does. I did that on an "extra" banjo which had started life as a bluegrass banjo. slightly de-tensioning the head, discarding the resonator and all that metal, and wedging a sock between the brace and the head has turned this beauty into a real nice old timey sounding thumper. If you didn't get a resonator with the banjo, I'd let you have the one I removed, make an offer. It is from an Alvarez. I attaches via a ring which is held in place by the brackets so it might not fit any banjo but an Alverez. email me if your interested. The resonator is fairly well made and is "brand new" but I ain't one to make money on it since I'll never use it.

my email is: shunkamanitu@yahoo.com

CB