Seamus, I am sure that it wasn't just us who were influenced by Barney McKenna.

I see that the actual instruments have been mentioned. Here is how I came to my current favourited.

My Guitar is a Fylde Falstaff. I fell in love with it's tone the first time I heard it being played and asked the owner for first refusal if he ever wanted to sell it. About 3/4 years later he asked me if I would give him £350 for it and I jumped at the chance. The previous owner has regretted his discision ever since and having gone through Martins and a Santa Cruz? , went back to a Fylde but still prefers mine.

My banjo is a Kildare banjo sold by Sully's. This was a once in a lifetime offer. My mother decided out of the blue that she wanted to by me a good banjo and I accepted her incredibly generous offer. We went up to Sully's shop in Maccelsfield and this one just hit me the minute I walked it the door. I tried it and loved it and then tried a few others but I sort of felt that the first one was the one I was meant to have.

The Melodeon is the same old D/G Hohner Erica that Conwy Morris Dancers helped me get.

Jon