My dear Mick, I very much trust your counsel...and perhaps I will lay on the guilt trip and say I was feeling neglected (mega SEG!)...but it doesn't hurt to find out as much info as possible!

Thanks everyone for all the info thus far. What everyone has said about tuning and gauge of strings (MICK!) is checking out with other info I've found.

Now to call the local banjo band to see if they can give me leads on some instruments to check out...the music stores have been useless...

Mary