Thanks Captain Birdeye,
I guess what I'm doing by tuning up a tone is the same as putting the capo at II. WhenI find a tune that Goes below D, I switch to the mandolin, which is my main instrument. I have tried GDAE tuning, but it just doesn't cut through on my old SS Stewart, even with heavier strings.

Back to the topic. My musical partner, Al, used a Gold Tone five string for a few years and was very pleased with it. Our first CD was recorded using this banjo and I can't tell the dif between it and his new Deering, which cost about twice the price, by listening to the two CDs. (Don't tell Al that.)