Tenor Banjo vs. Octave Mandolin

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 21:58:16 -0400
Subject: left handed banjo / bouzouki

Greetings,

Yesterday I sent you an using your feedback adress.
At that moment I didn't know you had such a splendid website.
Tonight I surfed your website for a few hours, so I can be a little more specific with my questions.
First I'll give you some background information, that will make it easier for you to answer my questions.

I live in Aruba in the Caribean. Once a week I play with some friends for tourists (mainly for fun).
This does sound like fun...I wish I could join in...

We play a lot of different styles from pop to Celtic music, which I like the most.
Most of the time I play accordion, guitar and whistle, but sometimes I play banjo and bouzouki,
My banjo and bouzouki are of poor quality.
You have a lot of choice, but my problem is that I'm a left handed player.

I'm also a lefty...and originally taught myself to play right-handed...we truly live in a backwards world though...

I'm looking for a nice left handed banjo and bouzouki in the price range of about $500 - 600.

Sounds like the Trinity College or Johnson would serve you well...we do left-handed conversions on either of these for a 30.00 upcharge...we refit the nut and bridge and re-string it backwards...this works well on these almond shaped instruments without pickguards...it looks the same to me...strung right-handed as it does left-handed...

I don't need more expensive instruments because I don't use them a lot.

I'm looking for a left handed (Irish) tenor banjo. I prefer GDAE tuning, but a regular CGDA tuning is no problem.

I read on your website, that the Gold Tone banjo's can be made left handed for an additional $85,-

Yes, however, it may be just as simple for us to reset the nut and re-string it for left-handed playing. On a tenor banjo this is quite easy...on a 5-string, this would be where an 85.00 charge would apply...therefore, use our conversion process and don't concern yourself about the additional 85.00...

I think The Gold Tone Tenor Special TS-250 would be a good choice for me.
Can you give me some advise?

Both the TS-250 and IT-250 would serve your needs fine...

I didn't find anything on your website about left handed bouzoukis (or octave mandolines).
See above...

I found some nice instruments in the desired price range from Johnson, Trinity College.

Can (any of) these instruments be ordered left handed? I play in GDAD tuning.

Yes...any and all of the above for Johnson and Trinity College can be converted other than the MA-500/550s...
For the GDAD tuning stick with the Octave scale lengths...if you're playing lots of lead, then you might consider the zouk...however, there's slightly more tension from the strings for the GDAD tuning.
The octave works well for lead to...only, since it doesn't have the octave tuning on the G and D pairs, it doesn't have as much definition when playing lead on the low end...
Hope this helps, Mickey

regards
John van der Pluijm
Aruba