Here's a Lyon & Healy 5 string banjo from the turn of the Century, that I picked up this weekend in an antique market in S Calif. . It's a low level instrument aimed at the beginner. .. Now, I can understand making a stripped down, simple beginner banjo, but I'm astounded by the negligence involved in making one that is totally unplayable. Seems like a shameful fraud perpetuated on young enthusiasts. I have several old banjos like this where the neck comes straight off the head w/ action already too high, even w/ out a bridge. by the time one attaches a 1/2', or even a 1/4' bridge, the action ,& all the positions up the neck are preposterous. At least. modern builders, no matter how ungodly cheap, can give a kid a banjo that is plunkable, 'till he progresses to the next level.
↧