Well here is my take on these questions.

Firstly your description fits me to a "T".

1: My bracets are always loose some place on my Ode Longneck. I just snug them up until they all take the same stress to turn them. Torque wrench with a lot of reductions on it and a socket that I made in the shop.

2. I have the strap tied to the bracket below the tailpiece and to an "Eye" that is the last fastener in the Shubb 5th string capo I use. Balance s great that way. 3. I've got a Barcus Berry pick up in mine. sometimes its OK usually its not. There is no good solution except a totally accoustic one. I'm in a band and we can't use mics for the instruments, too much feed back

4. Because of physical limits I stck with 'Open G" tuning and I use two capos. One on the 3rd and I move the other around to give me more keys with the same playing shapes. Versatile and limiting in the same instance.

5. I used spikes before i got the Shubb 5th string capo. The spikes where fine but I did lascerate my fingers now and then on them then I got this Shubb and I love it.

6. I buy Vega Long Scale strings, I understand that GHS loopend strings are always long scale. Standard strings probably will be too short for your banjo.

As a side note, I love the look of the longneck but I got a price for having a reugular scale neck made for it. Tired of hitting things with the headstock. I akso play the Ode with a flatpick as often as I frail it. Thats just the nature of the style we use in my band. and I use the shorter keys for that mostly. "C" "D" & "Eb" gained by capoing at frets 5, 7, and 8.

Never flame the guitarist, they are too touchy anyway.

Don