Hi all,

Thanks for the advice.

Russ, thanks for the info about Banjo-L but I'm not sure about subscribing to one of those services. I did thatonce upon a time and wound up with my mailbox packed with mail, most of which I didn't have time to read.

Bill Foster, I will give Deering a try. I keep forgetting about them but they do make the best.

DonMeixner, if your friends have trouble with intonation it may be the quality of the instrument. I have a copy of Harvey Reid's "Artistry Of The Six String Banjo" and there are no intonation problems with his instruments.

I have a concern about the quality of my instrument. I have a hard time taking seriously anything named Mirth Tone.

Jon, I'll give the higher tuning a try. I have tried a lot of things so far including tightening the head. Who knows, this may work too. I only worry about over stressing the instrument.

Rick, thanks for confirming Jon's idea. Have you heard the Harvey Reid album I mentioned above? He plays six and twelve string banjos on that in all kinds of styles. It is a great album.

z!, I'll check on the wound strings.

Thanks for all the feedback. If any of you can make it to NH next weekend you should be able to hear the new sound.