My Dean is 25" nut to bridge, so I am confused with the post 22" verses 26". While my Dean is built in China (something that I am not overly proud of ) it has a flawless, bound mahogany neck and great Grover tuners. The six string banjo is not a hybrid but it has a legacy going back to the early days of jazz when the six string guitar did not have the volume to cut through the brass instruments.(before the days of amplification) As a resonator instrument it predates the 5 string so the Scruggs fans ( I'm one myself) who say that it's not a real banjo should do some research. The thing has its limits, no argument, but within those limits it can be a lot of fun!