Thanks Rick, Mooman, Jed, and Banjoest!

Agreed on the 57 for live.

Well Jed your typing was clearer than my question --- I was actually asking only about recording, not reinforcement. But it's good that you all mentioned this, as I hadn't thought of using it in the studio.

The combined mic'ing technique laid out on separate channels makes sense as you can control all the parameters for each mic --- the phase problems of two or more mic's are not as easy to deal with live as at they are in the studio.

The 855 is great for acoustic sounds generally, btw.

Agreed on needing a good ear for placement - after, if it's garbage in, it'll be garbage out.

A couple more questions:

Rick, did you happen to see how close they mic'd Scruggs on Opry? (and btw, to show out of touch I am with the Banjo community - you're reply answered for me whether or not Scruggs is still alive! (Or was that an OLD Opry reply?) The Good Man must be getting on 80 + ??)

Jed, I'm in the backwaters of North Florida ... all of folks at the few music stores around here kind of screwed up the faces when I asked what kind of pick ups for banjo's they had, "you want to do what?" DOH! Any sites that describe pickups... what kind do you have?

thanks again, really do appreciate the assist. Keep on pluckin'

- Howard