I have a 1901 WL that is a great sounding banjo. But, I don't seem to use it often because I feel like I am going to break it if I try to change the tuning constantly. The tuners are original and are very different than modern tuners, they are "stiffer" and don't seem like the kind of tuners you would use to change tunings constantly. As a result, I find that when I am playing old-time music, that I just use my Goodtime because I don't have tuning issues with it.
What do you do if you have one of these old banjos? Do you play out of one tuning more often and just leave it tuned that way, or do you just go ahead and change it constantly and I am being paranoid about the banjo? I really feel like I should put this WL behind glass. It is in near mint condition and just seems like it needs to be preserved instead of played, which is ridiculous. Or is it? Ugh.
