Hi
I've been hired to play in the orchestra pit for a production of Ragtime this summer.
I play guitar, but for this show there are a few mandolin cues and several banjo cues.
I played a show once (Floyd Collins) on a 5-string banjo, which is an instrument that I've never had the time or the inclination to really learn how to play. For that show, I was fine. I just memorized all the fingerings and picking etc. and there weren't all that many cues on that instrument.
I've played a few other shows, w/o bluegrass content, on rented or borrowed 6-string banjos too. (A Gold Tone GT-750 'banjitar' and a Framus 6-string banjo.)
The Ragtime guitar book is written for 4-string tenor banjo and the music is in the ragtime style.
This time out I'm planning on buying a 6-string banjo and I'm looking for advice here.
It'll probably be a GT-750 again because they're pretty easy to get around here and I know I can get through this show with it.
But I'm wondering what the opinions are around here, with true banjo aficionados, as to what the best sounding 6-string banjo for this style of music might be.
The GT-750 has never really sounded all that authentic to me.
The cheaper Gold Tone model (the CC) sounds too dark to me.
The GT-500 actually sounds a bit better to me, in online clips, than the GT-750, but most folks seem to claim that the 750 is the better sounding instrument.
Sound clips I've heard on line don't really help to sell the Deering B-6 either to my ears.
The Gold Tone BT2000 actually sounds the best to me, in online clips, but it seems a bit of a weird design with its 12" rim and I don't know if I should trust my ears. I'm also not sure if the lack of a resonator is an issue or not for this style of music.
What would y'all suggest for me based on my stated needs?
BTW I don't really want to spend much more than $1k (Canadian) on this instrument, but might consider it for something that sounds real good.
Thanks for any info/tips.