Missing Blog and Late Night Practice Banjo

I noticed the other day that my first blog entry was "edited" by someone or something.  It now ends in mid-sentence and the last couple of paragraphs are missing.  For the sake of anyone bored enough to have resorted to reading my banjo blog, the gist of what's missing, to the best of my recollection,  is summed up as follows:   I went to see the Gibson and the Epiphones. Both were very nice. The Gibson, like the Stellings and Deerings, were more than I planned to spend right now.  The Epiphone was quite a bit less expensive.  The more I looked the more I became confused about which one to buy.  I had run across Recording King on the web and all the reviews were very good, but I couldn't find a dealer within driving distance that had one in stock so I could go play touchy-feely with it.  After seeking the advice of someone knowledgable in the buying, selling and playing of banjos, he recommended I get the RK, which I did. 

If you've read my recent review of the Recording King R80 Professional, you'll see that I have not regretted my choice.  One of my fellow Doylestown Jammers, who happens to be an Expert/Professional, played a few tunes on my RK at last week's jam and I could not believe the sound he had coming from it. Although he said that he liked it, I'm sure he's not about to trade in his Red Fox for it!

Now for part 2 of this entry.  As it turns out, the cheap Fender banjo I bought has been serving me well as a late night muted practice banjo. I removed the resonator and stuffed a rolled up pair of sweat socks between the single coordinator rod and the head positioned right below the bridge.  This acts a very effective mute and allows me to practice late at night without disturbing anyone.  I have tried 3 different kinds of mutes but none of them work as well as the sock trick.  I leave this banjo set up with the sock so I can I can just pick it up and play any time of the night.  I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but I left the resonator off.  This may also add to the "mutedness"  but I have not experimented with it.

Blue Banjo

My 2nd Banjo