New Hartel Ashborn banjo #145

I've just screwed up my courage and replaced the "old" Bob Sayers (circa 2000) with the "new" Bob Sayers (circa 2014). Sad, but we all put on years, and sometimes pounds. (By the way, the photo was taken by my friend Stephen Wade last weekend in his backyard in Hyattville, MD.)

The happy news is that i get to show off my brand new James Hartel Ashborn banjo #145. Jim has given me permission to post some of his close-up photos of the instrument, if anyone would like to see them. The neck is a bit shorter (my preference) than on most of Jim's modern Ashborns, but is still modeled after a couple of historical instruments.

Not only is the banjo a thing of great beauty (it occurred to me that if the Enfield Shakers up there in Connecticut made/played banjos, this is pretty much what their instruments might look like), it also has a wonderful sound. Now if I can just keep the pegs from slipping...any suggestions? Bob