Unusual Instrument Played by Ron Block, AKUS...

[Richard Eskite]

We saw Allison Krauss and Union Station (featuring Jerry Douglas) Friday night at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA. What a great concert and excellent venue. Only problem was how COLD it was! Allison had to perform in a borrowed winter coat! They came back for one encore and, truthfully, I think the crowd was satisfied with that since everybody could go back to their cars and get warm.

Ron Block played several instruments in addition to his iconic banjo, one of which looked like an octave mandolin, but it only had 5 tuning pegs. Anybody know anything about this instrument? I have been looking around and have not been able to find any reference to it. The picture I took was hopelessly blurry, so I cannot post an image.

[Michael Eck]

Most likely a banjola - a banjo/mandola conflation. Look at the Gold Tone site under Alternative Banjos.

[Richard Eskite]

I believe that's it. Thanks.