A resonator back provides more projection of sound in the Goodtime 2. It"s made here in the USA, at the Deering shop with the same tooling used to make the top of the line banjos. Greg Deering designed the Goodtime banjos because there were no low priced banjos of enough quality for people to actually learn on without difficulty or giving up. He remembers what it was like to want a good banjo and not be able to afford one, so his gift to others is the Goodtime banjo line.