John Huron of Noteworthy Instruments puts groundhog heads on his handmade banjos. John's banjos are based on the Stanley Hicks pattern. Stanley Hicks was a first cousin of Frank Proffitt's father-in-law, Nathan Hicks. You may be able to get John to replace the head on your Proffitt banjo with a groundhog head. Also, Clifford Glenn is still living. Clifford's father, Leonard Glenn, actually made many of the instruments sold by Frank Proffitt in the 1960's. When orders exceeded Frank Proffitt's ability to fulfill them, he approached neighbors, Leonard and Clifford Glenn, and they worked out an arrangement to make both dulcimers and banjos for Frank Proffitt to sell under his own name. The arrangement worked well until Frank Proffitt's untimely death in 1965. After that the Glenns had to re-establish a market under their own names. At this point in time, it is very difficult to determine who actually made a Frank Proffitt banjo or dulcimer.

Greg