I hadnt played since about 1990. Played 5 string as a self taught amateur from early 70s until early 90s. A couple weeks ago, a coffee buddy showed up and asked if anyone needed a decent banjo. It is a nice older Korean Samick (it was about $650 way back when new) Way nicer model than my old $45 student beater. Really nice inlays , geared tuners, wooden tone ring, really nice mahogany all over... all in really nice shape. It was in a cheap case with all the loose pieces disassembled and wrapped in t shirts. (I mean everything totally dissassembeled) Nothing like a project piece lol. Traded him a nice vintage Stetson fedora for it (He got to come pick out which one he wanted so he was happy and got a nice hat just like his grandpas. ) I got it all back together over the weekend and the new strings came in tuesday. Its all tuned up (and holding tune). The amazing thing was that after I evapo-rusted and fitz polished the gunk off the picks, I actually can still do nice even forward and reverse rolls at speed. Guess I DIDNT forget everything. Time to start stretching the fingers and working on scales and progressions. Playing mandolin the last few years, my hands have never had to stretch out on a larger fretboard... (my finger span has shrunk lol)
Ive played at acoustic guitar flatpicking for years, built a mountain dulcimer, restored a couple old 1930's guitars from my grandfather, and even picked up a nice f-style mandolin and got pretty decent with irish jigs, sea shantys, reels, and general appalachian hill music, but my heart has always belonged to a good banjo.... such a happy sound. Now my living room looks complete. I may never get very good, but man that room looks good now!