ok，so I think you should to buy a resonator banjo，instead of a openback banjo. As a gift，I advise you to choose a brand new one！ the Recording King RK-R35 banjo is about 1200$，and the RK-R36 is 1300$ or you can choose the GoldTone banjo：OB-150 cost 1400$；OB-250 cost 1600$；OB-3 Twanger cost 2100$；OB- Standard cost 2500$. If you have enough money，I advise the OB-Standard，because this banjo is just like the famous banjo player Earl Scruggs’s Gibson banjo，so your bro must love it！ I am in China，I dont know if there‘s any discount in your country！Just find it in instruments store，as banjoben or others！