Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published June 24, 2015 | Submitted
Report Open

The Resonator Banjo Resonator, part 2: What makes 'em "really crack"?

Abstract

A simple experiment quantifies the difference between the sound production of a banjo with and without a resonator back. Driven by a small tweeter mounted inside the pot, for frequencies above about 4500 Hz, the produced external sound is 6 to 10 dB louder with the resonator than without. With the banjo played in any normal fashion, this gives a negligible contribution to the overall volume. However, that difference is clearly a reflection of the universally recognized resonator sound, in close analogy to plosive consonants in human speech. No direct correlation is observed between the head-resonator separation and the spectrum of the enhanced response. This suggests that direct reflection off the back is not a primary contributor to the resonator/openback difference, leaving differences in overall absorption as the major suspect.

Attached Files

Submitted - back-key.pdf

Submitted - resonator-resonator-2.pdf

Files

back-key.pdf
Files (3.7 MB)
Name Size Download all
md5:a999402d37ee9e38d4bd9e36d4cd128f
560.7 kB Download
md5:2fdd34f478986882a06bf8be07449df2
409.8 kB Preview Download
md5:d509e8367c5905bfb94ffff1330835b5
1.0 MB Preview Download
md5:a756b582d9af55c0d37a137bc6b9d699
561.7 kB Download
md5:bd09f4e31a0694a3ebf6e35fd7f64d50
561.7 kB Download
md5:d24cee92862d4d78e04cde69faf1c15c
560.7 kB Download

Additional details

Created:
August 20, 2023
Modified:
October 23, 2023