I mostly play the old time five stringer. But as I may have been one of those perceived as jumping on the idea... In defense of the four string: It was developed in the twenties as a louder instrument to keep up the brass in jazz bands. As said above, it's tuned like a violin (cello really) in fifths. Being in fifths makes it great fun for playing melodies of any style. I have a Vega style N that is a twin to Bill Sables' Vega. It's stubby four-string neck will never be severed from its swarthy shoulders. A tenor shall it forever remain! But I must confess, I cheated and tune it down so It's an octave down from my fiddle (Irish tenor). On the same note, I have another product from the 20's a Vega banjo mandolin that shall always remain an eight-stringer. Ack! should we start a thread on those?

Rex