Shopping at IBMA

A boon to the non-banjo-picking world

As you can see from the list of exhibitors at this year's IBMA World of Bluegrass, in addition to the booths of associations, institutions, agencies, media, and others, there were many stands selling instruments or accessories - not only floods of banjos, guitars, resonator guitars, and mandolins, but also large numbers of fiddles and basses.

One stall that caught our eye was that of the Tranjo company, who have developed a neat travel banjo with full-size scale length, which can be dismantled for packing into a carry-on bag. The options for their banjos include a silent practice head, which is now also available for regular banjos (see picture above, and the website). It should help to improve relations between banjo-players and the wider community.

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In Nashville the immense and distinguished stock of the legendary Gruhn Guitars included during WOB week two of the most unusual acoustic guitars we've ever seen. (They had six-string necks, but may have been instead some kind of furniture, or perhaps a type of humane trap for raccoons? Go there and form your own judgment.)

Finally: your editor's heartfelt gratitude to the fine people at the Books-a-Million store in West Knoxville, TN, and their excellent customers.