I have a C-scale banjo but to answer your questions are longer tha I can write. At the "Q" question/search box to the left of this page type in "C-scale banjo" and then let's C what is left over for questions. banjered

Compact and rugged. I always check it in with the other baggage on the plane (in its soft bag). If they refuse because they don’t want to take responsibility which has happened a couple of times it just fits into the overhead. Oh and it’s a full scale banjo that fits in a 3/4 guitar soft case.

Use .013 .016 .022 .030 .013 strings on a C scales banjo to get into G tuning. What I do.

It all depends on what you want to do with it. If you're singing, or playing with other musicians, absolute pitch is important. If you want a travel banjo mainly to keep your instrumental skills in practice, it shouldn't matter what pitch your banjo is at, as long as it's in tune with itself... unless you have a strong sense of absolute pitch (usually not-quite-correctly called "perfect pitch").

A C-scale banjo is going to sound most like a banjo should with strings of regular banjo gauges, but tuned a fourth above standard banjo pitch. It's like putting a capo on the 5th fret. A set of strings heavy enough to tune to regular G on a scale that short (and not rattle or be impossible to play in tune) will sound pretty clunky and dull.

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Originally posted by Anthony S

I’m really looking for a travel banjo so i can take it on an airplane w/o hassle. And so i can throw it in the back of the car.

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Yup, everybody wants this.  

Make sure you try playing it for more than a few minutes before laying down cash...

Unfortunately, there are very few C scales on the market. These have a 19"–20" scale with 19 3/4" being typical.

The Pearse Hartford D (ss) or Deering Julia Belle (nickel) are .012 .014 .020w .024w .012. They work great and can be tuned to G or up to C. Back in the 1960s, these were Mediums and we tuned to pitch (actually, both Gibson and Vega used slightly heavier 4th strings). 

I used to buy Savannah and Saga travel banjos and string them up with these gauges while setting them up for children. Wish I had kept one for myself.

Yes, a C scale is shorter. An A scale is 2 frets shorter than standard, and a C scale is five frets shorter than standard. C scales are sometimes called banjeaurines.

About a year ago I got a hold of an old Stewart-MacDonald Eagle kit banjeaurine. It's currently tuned to C, that is, tuned to play the chord shapes of G tuning, but five frets higher. It has the old Stew-Mac aluminum pot, so needs a lot of taming the shrill sound.

I'm looking for a tenor banjo case, preferably used and cheap, and maybe a gig bag (tenor gig bags are easier to find). It currently sits in an open-back case.

If I want to play in G, I tune to double C shape, which gives me F, and capo up two frets. Since I don't (yet) have spikes, I use a Pearson elastic fifth string capo.

Very interesting. Thanks. Think I’m going to try to find an A scale for my “travel” banjo. But this is interesting. Good info. Interesting-looking banjo.