Frank, if you want to play and sing the ballads, i really recommend the Singing Tradition of Childs popular ballads by Bronson. If you must have a vintage copy, sit down. the cheapest that i have found was 750.00. I wound up having a reprint done by books on demand. I'm not even going to talk about the cost of the original volumns by Child. Together, they cost more than any car i've ever owned.