Art. Can i pick your brain and ask if you know how much Merlins cost at the time,and if so was it alot of cash for the day.I once heard they where overpriced ect,that would explain why they gave one to Tommy Makem and it seems he gave that to Luke Kelly not long after.Much preferred his Vega. I have a love of weird and unusual 5 string Banjos and have recently bought a Framus Longneck which sounds wonderfull and with the top tensioners looks like a huge cog or a weapon LOL when in battle bring out the merlin and framus.Again if you have any info on the Framus id love to hear it and if you can throw in a tale all the better. If Merlin made left handers just goes to show they ecpected great things,but like u said its the publics choice.Maybe had they made them in the early 70s it would all be a diff story.Sad thing is even with the rarity they are not a valuable instrument.Mine even has the Merlin original hardshell case,probably worth more than the banjo. Well ill have a drink to the MARVELOUS MYSTERIOUS MAGICAL MECHANICAL MELIN. Regards Tom.
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