I use Savarez Yellow Card nylon strings on the Prust banjo. They are heavy strings. I don't keep track of what the real notes are....but I tune it in 4 or 5 common tunings but down a few steps or so.

I like to tune a dulcimer down low also. Or at least have a low note at the bottom. Like A'EAe, or G'DGd, or A'DAd, or G'GDe and the like. Rod was really good at choosing baritone or bass tunings to compliment his tune choices.

Randy, that Prust looks like a genu-wine high end instrument to me, regardless of what it might have cost.

Love those tackheads. So you've got the low tuning thing going on it...nylon or gut strings, I assume?

On my gourd I'm playing in E, F, and Bflat (instead of G, A, and D like my 'normal' banjos).

Glad you ain't knocked out Lisa!

A fellow by the name of Eric Prust made the big banjo...13" pot. Wisht I woulda took the rag I have stufft between the dowel-rod & head out before I took the pic...oh well....

http://www.chloesgarden.com/Banjos%20on%20Web/Banjos.htm

I like it..plays great..tune it to C, D or E or somewhere in there. Big old deep, hard sound....almost harsh... which is why I have the rag in there.

I don't have any of them high end instruments like yours!... : )....

Randy tell me again about that big banjo on the right- is it a 12" pot? Did you make it?

(obviously Irene hasn't knocked me out here)

They look purty, too! Fretless gourd banjo is something I have to get back to. It is hanging patiently behind me on the bookshelf...

No, Brian is tuning his spare fiddle down to F for me, and I play my piggie gourd in F with him. Brian just plays fiddle. I can't tune the gourd higher than F--it's not made to tune up high to G or A tension. Sounds YUMMY in low E and F!

No i'm sticking with clawhammer on the gourd still- i like 'some' of those minstrel tunes but some seem too fussy and parlour-y to me. Just playing all my old-time stuff down low and slide-y. The modal ones sound AWESOME on the fretless gourd.

Uh oh---- heavy thunder starting now, might have to shut off computer soon....Irene is almost here!

Same wavelength f'sure Lisa....hope it lasts forever! This little mountain banjo is hard to coax music out of....part of its' allure I think. Are you getting stroke style on the puerco?...can't really get my mind around it....complicated tunes they play!

So's Brian playing a little banjo?