Hi Pete, I spent many years and many pounds trying to amplify a banjo to make it sound like a banjo and not an electric guitar and to overcome the feedback problem. In the end I bought a Fishman transducer banjo pickup about £100 and I am very pleased with the sound it produces and feedback seems to have gone but it is still not as good as playing through a mike.The banjo player in the Temperence Seven uses a mike on a stalk clamped to his banjo which sounds good. I have not heard a wooden banjo but I wonder how it would sound, Would it have the same ring as a regular banjo? because surely a lot of the banjo type sound comes from the skin. I would advise you to email Stan Gee at stanandmaggie@geez98.freeserve.co.uk Stan has been working with banjos since the 60s and has probably views and advice on the subject. as to makers I would recomend Terry Docherty who makes guitars,mandolins,mandolas and fiddles He is a very respected luthier (I have a guitar and Mandola by him) and I'm sure he could make a wooden banjo to your requirements You will find him at terry@doch74.freeserve.co.uk or his website at www.ypc.co.uk/docherty Cheers Bill