Banjo

cheap sheep

I was thinking about getting a 5-string banjo, for playing bluegrass. I already play the Irish Tenor, but I think it limits you to 1 style of music. The only problem I have is I cant find any of them in the music shops. Does anybody have any advice on shops that sell them, coz I think its a bit dodgy buying an instrument on the internet.

Scoual

Hey,
have you tried Waltons, i found some banjos on their website www.waltons.ie, you can probably try them in the shops

Cheers
Scoual;)

pol o gallachoi

Can anyone recommend a 5-string banjo for an intermediate player for around 300 euros?
Also am i mental to think that i can use the 5-string for irish music (changing the tuning) and other styles?
Don't want to have to buy two banjos (the tenor i have is past its prime).

dubtom

You could use a 5 string for Irish but it's tuned to open G, GDGBD, plucked with finger picks so completly different than a tenor,it would be whole new learning expierence.In saying that I picked up a good one in X-music for €360 including semi hard case,a recording king RK20.Hard to believe a banjo can be past it's prime,there is an abundance of parts places on the net,you can replace anything you need.

Organeer

Have you tried Goodwin's, Walton's, Jimi's, X-music?

dubtom

Who's Jimi's?

Row

This man is supposed to make good banjo's,
http://www.banjo.ie/about.php?id=1

Organeer

Jimi's is jimis music store in Ballymount

pol o gallachoi

Cheers just got one here for 320. Goin to use it for riffs and backing chords in our band to start with. I already have a mandolin which should sort me for the trad stuff. Would like to learn bluegrass eventually any recommendations for books and cds for beginners?