Well, it's always easy to misunderstand internet posts. Like others, I thought you were asking for more general information, as well as making an inquiry into specific banjos being sold by Mudcatters. And of course, we don't know how much you already know about these things. I didn't know until someone told me how much of an impact head tension can have on the brightness of a banjo - and I'd been playing for several years before that!

I like to think it's only condescending if you have a pretty good idea that the person you're talking to ought to know what you're telling them. Otherwise it's just unhelpful helpfulness - well intentioned, but useless to you. (Which is not to say it wouldn't be useful to someone else.)

Besides, all these posts serve to keep the thread current, and if you're looking to buy a banjo, that's important.

In any case, you probably won't do wrong by following Mark Ross's lead - he really knows his stuff.

Dan