Well, Cpt. Cranky; we meet again! It is beginning to appear that you are none other than a certificated educated consecrated Grand Expert, Wizzard, and omniscient Potentate of all subjects, forign and domestic. Is there any body of knowledge of which you are not the acme of expertise? Alas, the Mudcat is one place where you seem to be routinely encountering other "Experts" who have done their homework and speak with authority, credibility, and experience. This is the second time I've seen you popped off of your exalted perch down a peg or two, and since I don't open but about 2% of the threads, I've got to wonder if it's a regular occurance. If so, you seem to be getting used to it & taking it pretty well, as you keep resurfacing a-blowin' and a-spoutin' for more.

According to Bob Flesher and at least one period instructor, (BRIGGS; Ditson; 1855) the old Gut-strung banjos were typically tuned about 2 1/2 steps below our current "Bluegrass" tunings per "Butch"s post. When you are dealing with friction pegs, good luck holding anything much sharper with gut strings!

Somebody mentioned picks; it has been my experience that guts had best be played barefingered as was apparantly the tradition through the ACW. Picks will tear up the strings faster than anything this side of a chain saw, and in case you have not purchaced a set of real, good gut strings lately, let me assure you that they are not cheap!

To again concur with "Butch", (who by the way not only restores old instruments but handcrafts the finest replicas I have ever seen) the "tackheads" were the instrument of choice for the Banjoist on a budget, and could be constructed at home out of commonly available materials (Here, Kitty-Kitty) by the average Sharecropper. No doubt we could still find them being played in Appalachia or in remote backwaters of the deep South. I have heard some mighty fine pickin' comin' outta one of these dandys!

I have seen plans in an 1870's book for a British 6-string banjo, and an 1880s Banjo Instructor book in my collection advises to use gut violin strings, but intimates that some banjos were starting to be made with steel strings.