DennisD:

I love your term "Bulls**t banjo"! It sounds so much more redneck than "Chicago tuning". Also, you completely nailed the point I was trying to make in my post, when you said "the essence of the sound was there and added the right flavour to the play". That's EXACTLY why I pick up that BS banjo now and then, especially when I'm jamming with a half dozen guitar players.

Thanks for your post!
LLOYD S