The reason I haven't played that loaner much is, first of all, I've really out-grown my desire to own a long-neck banjo. If find them unwieldy and pointless. I can't think of any time I'd want to play one open (in E) and I don't like the sound down that low anyhow. In addition, the fingerboard on Josh's banjo seems to be a little wider. I prefer a 5/16" string spacing - it's 11/32" on his. I know - picky-picky, but that extra 1/32" is discernable.
Honestly here's what I'd like to have ultimately in a versatile playable banjo. I love the sound of a wood tone ring archtop, so that would have to be part of the deal. I want a standard-length 5-string with a Shubb 5th-string capo (don't like spikes) and a 5th-string mute so I can play it plectrum style as well. I want an ebony fingerboard on a natural maple neck, just like the Pete Seeger banjo. I like the feel of an open back, but I also want a pick-up inside. My old Whyte Laydie was an open back and I had to always be very careful about any ambient sound creeping into the pick-up from the back (tummy growls, etc.) I came up with a good solution to that problem on my 7-string Deering. I had Greg make me a clip-on back (not really a resonator) that fits inside the instrument. So, Santa, if you're listening, there's plenty of time until Christmas if you get started on that now.
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