My first banjo was a Samick, and it was too loud. I've been looking for the right one for years. At present, I have an ancient Fairbanks Vega number 2 special, and the tone isn't bad, but the tuners suck. If you tighten them enough to stop their slipping, you can't turn the damn things. Plus, I hate to use pegs for the 5th string because it would spoil its antique value. It's in nearly perfect condition now.

I've heard countless banjos over the years and the one Granpa Jones played has the sound I want. He offered me one of his back in the 70's but I couldn't justify the cost back then.I thought my daughter's braces were more important than my lifelong desire to play a good banjo.

Can someone tell me why his banjo sounded like that? Was it the banjo, or his playing?