Gary - of course we also know special types of acoustic guitars, e.g. the so-called 'jazz guitar' with f-holes (?) as a violin has or smaller types down to the very small 'octave guitar' which is a real guitar, not a toy but very difficult to finger. (Again I don't know whether these expressions can directly be translated into english.) Now that we discussed it I realize that I can't remember any 'Wandergitarre' from an e.g. japanese manufacturer. Maybe these instruments really are a quite local phenomenon as their name refers to one. Maybe also they are vanishing: They are (or were?) cheaper because steel strings require less manufacturing accuracy for the guitar than nylon strings do, and the japanese now make classical guitars for the same price. The only difference is, that a 'Wandergitarre' is not that susceptible to aging, because steel strings make it vibrate by simple violence. Nylon strings need appropriate wood for sound, and nobody can keep cheap, fresh wood from 'working' as we say.

Bonnie - to simply finger your banjo closer to the frets should normally not be a problem. Just shift your hand a little down the neck. But I suspect that what you say doesn't apply to all of your fingers and you were only fingering imprecisely - am I right? Don't worry - that will come automatically with time and practise.

I am surprised of what you say about melodic sustain. Is that a matter of fingering? When I finger a guitar correctly the sustain is given by the particular instrument I have and nothing else (unless I damp a string by releasing my grip while still touching the string). If not I am immediately punished by the string either buzzing or sounding (uh - sorry) like a banjo: as few sustain but far from its clear sound (better?). Now as you are saying this I recall some banjo sounds I've heard and it seems to me that lacking sustain needn't be characteristic for these intruments. Might it just be caused by the player's fingering? Might there be a problem only banjo players know of and guitar players (except Rick) don't? I don't. But it's worth considering, for advanced guitar players as well as for beginners because this is a thing that should and need not annoy them - it only works with specific guitars. If it applies to all banjos - pooh! Then you have chosen a difficult instrument.

Joerg