Anybody who thinks the Mudcat "isn't what it used to be" has been missing threads like this.   I have a used banjo that somehow took possession of me at some time in the past, that's been judged as "not bad" by them that knows. A visiting friend from the Mainland recently showed me the basic strum, and now, armed with some of the info from this thread, I'll be ready to start learning...in the unlikely event that I find the time to practice! Meanwhile, it has a place of honor, next to the accordion and dulcimer and ukulele and pennywhistle that I've been hoping to learn to play, also. I'm lucky to get my guitar out of the case more than once or twice a week, these days, but one day....

Aloha,
Mark