There is one fun bit of trivia about the group's tuning. For some reason they thought they sounded better a half step up so tuned all their instruments at open tuning a half a step above standard. When the Songbook Album came out here were these tunes in Db instead of C.
It is fun to hear so many opinions about The Kingston Trio and the guys that played banjo in the group. I sure was a Dave Guard fan and when I saw the group in Pullman, WA in maybe 1959 I asked him (when he came out after the show) how he learned and he turned me onto Pete Seeger's book.
Because he was the first folk banjo player I tried to emulate Dave Guard was my biggest influence. I had a chance to tell Paul Prestopino a few years ago how much I studied his playing as well.
For me George is clearly the most accomplished. It should be remembered that George replaced Bill Zorn. Bill is a wonderful folk musician and I appreciate his banjo playing very much.
Responses