Charlie, that black plastic pot died in 1965. For the next 25 years I used a $49 Harmony which a friend pronounced unplayable. (And all that time I just thought I had no ability to play.) Then I saw that old banjo for sale at a festival...

Banjoman, thanks for the encouragement. I've never bought anything on ebay, never even looked for anything on ebay. How can I be sure something Ican't se or touch isn't warped or bowed?