I bought a second hand Hawk for £12 in about 1970 from someone who had owned it then for about 4/5 years. I still have this although its in a bit of a sorry state now, needing a new neck to replace the original which is showing signs of breaking just beloe the headstock.
Its now little more than an ornament. Lots of scratces & bumps on it, but as it holds a lot of memories, I would only part with it to someone who might consider putting it right.
I know play either an Ovation or a very early Lakewood (+ one of about four different banjos) all of of which are superb.
I also owned a Stella 12 string in the early sixties but that was knicked by a bloke I loaned it to to earn some money busking. He probably earned enough to vanish overseas with my guitar. The Stella had no truss rod and the action needed a grip like a vice but it made a great sound.