To expand on what Jon said above, Deering makes a number of banjos (non-bluegrass style)in which the top of the wooden rim is shaped to act as a tone ring. The Goodtime banjos are made this way, as is the Vega Little Wonder and evidently the John Hartford model as well. I've had a Goodtime and now have a Little Wonder, and find them to be very nice banjos (and affordable). They can also be used without making your chiropractor's next boat payment for him, as they are nice and light. IMO all the tone ring style banjoes were designed to be as loud as possible at a time when amplification equipment was either non-existent or primitive at best. This is less of a consideration these days (unless you NEED to dominate a bluegrass jam).