So I stipulated that the banjo would remain in my house on permanent loan, pending my departure from the planet, whereupon it would return to Josh, with no strings attached. Well, I tried to like that banjo - it has a great sound and everything, but those extra three frets just bugged me. So I suggested to Josh that we sell it and reinvest in a Deering Vega #2, a banjo that I've had my eyes on for years.
I put an ad for the long neck on Banjo Hangout and for over a year there was no response. Then Pete Seeger died and all of a sudden I got about 5 inquiries. We finally sold it to a guy in Connecticut, who is thrilled to own it. Altho he told me (even tho he paid a fair price for it) that he'll always consider it as owned by the three of us - Josh, me and him.
So I've ordered the Vega #2 and I believe it's about ready for shipment. I use a 5-string for plectrum playing also - don't carry two banjos. On my current Aria 5-string I have a little clip that Rick Shubb made for me that allows me to tuck the 5th string under it and mute the string. This clip is mounted on the head - Rick told me to use super glue, but that never held. I finally got gutsy and drilled a tiny hole in the head and bolted the thing onto the head. I've never had any issue with that weakening the head at all.
But I'm not going to do that with our Vega #2. I've discovered another way to mute the 5th string. I attach a little square of male velcro onto the heal of the banjo and then wrap about a 3" piece of female velcro around the 5th string and anchor the velcro. It works great and it's a quick maneuver. I can switch from 5-string to plectrum as I'm introducing the next song - tuck the 5th string and retune the 4th down to C. No need for two banjos.
Altho I do envy your Vega Vox, Mark.
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