See if you can't dig up a banjo in a local pawn shop or from a aquaintice first for about the same price. A Abilene will probably be alright, but it is a cheap banjo made by a guitar company, and you get what you pay for. Check out these sites too: http://www.banjohangout.org/links/browse.asp?m=bytopic&v=Shopping

Entry Deerings and Goldtones have a good reputation for a realtivly inexpensive price.