A Resonator Banjo Built on 140 Years of Washburn Know-How
There's something about a resonator banjo that just demands to be played — that bright, projecting snap that cuts through a room and makes everyone look up from their conversation. The Washburn B9 is squarely in that tradition. It's part of the company's Americana Series, and Washburn has been building banjos since the late 1800s, so they know a thing or two about what a good one should feel and sound like at an approachable price.
The B9 comes in a clean Natural Gloss finish that lets the mahogany show through without any fuss. It's a straightforward instrument — no exotic appointments, no unnecessary flash — just a well-spec'd resonator banjo ready to be picked up and played.
Whether you're working through your first Scruggs roll or looking for a reliable second banjo that won't break the bank, the B9 has the construction and hardware to keep up with you.
Mahogany Resonator and Aluminum Tone Ring
The closed mahogany resonator is what gives this banjo its voice — it projects the sound forward, adding volume and punch that open-back banjos simply can't match. The aluminum tone ring works with the resonator to deliver the bright, focused attack that resonator-style banjos are known for.
The 11" grooved tension hoop holds the genuine Remo head firmly in place, giving you a consistent playing surface and keeping your tone stable across the head. An ebony-tipped maple bridge sits on top of that head and does a lot of work translating string vibration into the sound you actually hear.
A Neck That's Ready to Play
The mahogany neck runs a 27.5" scale length — standard territory for a 5-string banjo — with 22 frets over an engineered wood fretboard with simple dot inlays. The ABS nut is cut to a 1-3/16" width, giving you a comfortable, familiar spacing whether you're coming from guitar or picking up a banjo for the first time.
The geared 5th-string planetary tuner is worth calling out specifically: it's a real upgrade over the friction-style pegs you find on cheaper instruments. Planetary tuners hold their tuning much more reliably, which matters a lot when you're mid-session and don't want to chase that high drone string around. The remaining four strings are handled by diecast tuners with pearloid buttons.
Hardware and Finishing Details
All the hardware on the B9 runs chrome, including the armrest — a small thing that makes a noticeable difference in long picking sessions by protecting your forearm from the tension hoop edge. The traditional-style tailpiece anchors the strings cleanly at the lower end, and the overall chrome package gives the banjo a classic look that suits the Natural Gloss finish well.
The 11" grooved tension hoop and 30-bracket setup give you consistent head tension adjustment all the way around the rim, so if you want to dial in the tightness of the head over time, you have the hardware to do it.
Product Features:
- 5-String resonator banjo from Washburn's Americana Series
- Mahogany resonator and aluminum tone ring for volume and projection
- Genuine Remo head with 11" grooved tension hoop
- Ebony-tipped maple bridge for clear string-to-sound transfer
- Mahogany neck, 27.5" scale length, 22 frets
- Engineered wood fretboard with dot inlays, 1-3/16" ABS nut
- Geared 5th-string planetary tuner for reliable high-drone tuning
- Diecast tuners with pearloid buttons on strings 1–4
- Chrome hardware throughout, including armrest and traditional tailpiece
- Natural Gloss finish
Brand: Washburn
Model: Americana B9
SKU: B9-WSH-A-U
Condition: New
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