For anyone who hasn't yet mastered Cripple Creek.

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Duh!

From WWM_SF on 6/5/2014 2:37:55 PM

I have been wanting to start banjo for some time and attended the Arizona Banjo and Ukulele Blast last week to do some research and ask questions.  What an amazing group of talented, nice and helpful people - the performers, vendors and participants made the only idiot at the gathering (me) feel welcome.

Now I'm looking for an axe.  Has to be at the lowest end of the cost scale as it could easily wind up next to my unused treadmill.

I am really interested in playing a 4-string plectrum, but they start at least a hundred dollars more than the same manufacturers' 5-string models.  (Somehow that just doesn't make sense to me, but....).  I will probably just take off the drone string and play it like a 4-string. 

That said, I'm looking at several instruments and the user reviews are all over the place.  At the moment, my high-end (low-priced thought) is the Gold Tone AC-4.  Anyone have any experience with this?  Although it is a composite instrument, the ability to remove the resonator with one screw has a great appeal as I suspect I will play it more with an open back than with a resonator -- my apartment neighbors will appreciate that, I'm sure. 

Others I've been looking at (it is very hard to find instruments to try in the Bay Area. We only have Guitar Center and one other, smaller dealer, in the City and they are not banjo smart.) are the Rover RB-20 or RB-20P55.  I'd like to get it home as much under $200 as possible (the exception being the Gold Tone which I've found 'blemished' for ~$230 and general comments seem to rate the Gold Tones as the best in the lower price range for beginners).

If anyone has any input on these or other suggestions, I appreciate them all.

Thanks,

WWM-SF (a/k/a Walter)

2 Comments
	roadstar75 says: 6/5/2014 3:07:49 PM My suggestion would be to post this as a new topic in the forum, it would get much wider response I think.
rgoad says: 6/5/2014 7:34:55 PM This is My Theory of Buying Musical Instruments. Find a friend or acquaintance that is passionate about plectrum banjos and have that person help you find a good used one. You will get more bang for the buck and more likely a better instrument. Even a new one needs set up or will play like junk, so newness is limited value. You may find a used one sitting next to another felller's treadmill, and he will be happy to get a few dollars back out of it. You could do the same if it comes to that.
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