I inherited a Ludwig Stratford plectrum banjo and have learned to play it. I inherited it from a great uncle who fed his family though the depression playing it for dance bands in eastern washington. It has a beautifull pure ring and such long sustain such that people with their eyes closed dont immediately guessbanjo. It requires a skin head to really sing and plastic on these beauties is a sin. trust me once you've heard it set up the way they were meant you cannot go back to plastic heads. The modular, one bolt removable resonator let's you switch to open back in 5 seconds making it even mellower and easier sounding if with less volume. It was made to be played both ways and there is decoration only visible with the resonator off. I have been looking for a modern plectrum I can travel with without worrying about an family heirloom but I have yet to find one that sounds anywhere close to the stratford. They have all just been twangy with a BANG half second ring then silence, sound to the notes. I think it ruined modern bankos for me
   I have yet to get a modern one.