When I couldn't find the vellum I wanted locally, I turned to Elderly Instruments in the States (I ordered from them for years when I was there). I kept the total under £18 so the Customs man wasn't interested and I've just received the order, 16 days after I placed it (9 days after they emailed to say it had shipped). That's a vellum head (about £5.50), a bridge and some picks and things. Shipping was $10 (about…

There's an auction in Ireland tomorrow that's got a Riley-Baker patent zither banjo in it, guide price £252 - £288. That's the one with the all-aluminium pot and neck (the fingerboard is wood). Here are some good pictures of another example from somebody's blog: http://ning.it/jjyOmt



The auction thing is kind of interesting. You can sign up online, watch in realtime and bid. Unfortunately, you have to make arrangements for somebody to pick things…