Need help choosing a banjo

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ARTISTE BANJOS NZ. www.banjos.co.nz Gold Tone & Recording King Stocked. NZsteve

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From dizm on 12/30/2014 12:30:13 PM

Hello banjo players. I'm a muso/actor in Auckland. I play guitar but not banjo (yet). I need help to find (and learn) a banjo for a play in March (Peace Plays, at Company Theatre). Would be nice to borrow one, but also happy to buy if I can get good advice, so that I don't buy junk, or overpay.

My character is an ozzie bushwacker in the 40's, so would rather not have something that's all new and shiny.

Would appreciate any help I can get.

6 Comments
	primaveranz says: 12/30/2014 4:03:17 PM I may be wrong, but I'd guess that at that period and considering the Irish influence in Australia he would be more likely to play a 4 string then a 5? What do others reckon?
	dizm says: 12/30/2014 4:08:29 PM Thanks for that. Be easier for me to learn to play, and my character would certainly not carry finger picks around. Is it possible to take the top string off a 5-string and play as a 4-string?
	primaveranz says: 12/30/2014 4:10:16 PM I may be wrong, but I'd guess that at that period and considering the Irish influence in Australia he would be more likely to play a 4 string then a 5? What do others reckon?
	primaveranz says: 12/30/2014 4:15:26 PM Sorry, don't know why that other comment appears twice ;) I guess you could play 4 string on a 5 but it might be a bit awkward because of the "dead" fretboard area and the 5th machine head might get in the way? I also think an open-back might be more realistic as they would be less likely to get damaged while hobo-ing around. A resonator might look a bit "fancy" for a travelling man. This is all speculation on my part of course ;)
	dizm says: 1/5/2015 11:19:49 PM Thanks for the help. I bought a Rover SB-20 for $100. Not a great banjo but a reasonable price, and will do what I need it to do.
	primaveranz says: 1/6/2015 1:45:41 AM Glad I could help, and that's going straight on my CV "Historical Music Authenticity Theatrical Consultant (Company Theatre, NZ)" ;)
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