The Resonator Banjo Resonator, part 1: Overall Loudness

Among banjos, the resonator banjo is loud, and the resonator back likely maximizes the loudness contributed by its sound hole. Using three different methods of sound production, evaluated using three different criteria of loudness, it is found that the common alternatives, e.g., open back or flat plate back, are equally loud. The total banjo sound volume in essentially indistinguishable among these cases.