Barnes & Mullins BJ500BW Empress Closed-Back 5-String Banjo

Closed-Back Bluegrass Punch with a Warmer Walnut Character

The Barnes and Mullins BJ500BW Empress is a closed-back 5-string banjo for players who want strong projection, quick playability and a slightly warmer look and voice from walnut appointments. The burl walnut resonator helps push the sound forward, giving the banjo the punch and volume needed for bluegrass rolls, driving backup patterns and picked lead lines that need to carry in an acoustic group.

Walnut generally sits a little warmer and darker than maple, so the BJ500BW is a good choice if you want banjo attack without the whole instrument feeling too bright or hard-edged. The walnut neck, stained maple laminate rim and ovangkol fingerboard give the instrument a sturdy, practical playing platform, while the low action and quick neck help left-hand movement feel less demanding when playing rolls, slides and chord changes.

The rolled brass tone ring adds volume and projection, and the Remo Vellum head gives the banjo a responsive surface for clean note attack. Geared planetary-style machine heads help with tuning stability, while 24 brackets and chrome hardware complete the closed-back build.

At Riffs & Licks Music, we think this banjo is best for players who want a punchy closed-back 5-string with bluegrass projection, comfortable action and a warmer walnut-based character than a brighter maple-heavy banjo.

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