Dark Oregon walnut, reddish California pistachio, raw brass hardware from Brooks Masten and Fluorocarbon strings instead of steel. All this makes a rich and mellow instrument that still has some punch to it. This is for my friend and mentor Marianne, who already plays ukulele and has been wanting to learn banjo for a while. She wasn't so sure when she came to pick it up, but after three notes of Angeline the Baker she was grinning. Hooked.