I would second the recommendation of Steve Gerritsen and his Stone Banjo Company (good website). I bought a new banjo from Steve as a birthday present for my wife. It cost about $800 delivered, and it's a very nice instrument, an 11" open back. Steve will build whatever you want and he won't charge a fortune. Also...if you can find an Enoch Tradesman (11" or 12"), they're awfully fine banjos. You can get a new Enoch Tradesman (and sometimes a used one) at a good price from Bob Smakula. He knows a heck of a lot about open back banjos. [ http://www.smakula.com/etb.html ] Also...check the classifieds at Banjo Hangout for used banjos.
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