Review: Gold Tone Banjo

Subject: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Mooh
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 09:22 AM

Okay, forgive me for this, but I got kind of excited. Normally I don't sent out birth announcements when I get another axe.

Picked up a new Gold Tone Irish Tenor (IT-250) banjo yesterday from Long & McQuade Music in Stratford Ontario. I had to wait a few weeks as it was on back order but apparently it's worth the wait.

What a crackerjack little axe! Nice fit and finish, decent hardware (except for somewhat subpar tuning machines which I will eventually upgrade), good set-up (from the USA source after they get the instruments from Korea), nice looking with cloud fret inlays, flame maple headstock overlay, engraved armrest, and what appears to be an ebony capped maple bridge.

The factory strings were crap, but restrung with new D'Addario strings it sounds smooth, loud enough for my sensitivities (it is after all, a banjo), intonates well, and the playability is fast and low.

The purchase was made so that I could use the instrument in question when tenor banjo students come for their lessons. Tired of borrowed instruments, however good, or using mandolin or bouzouki, I wanted an instrument that would work for lessons and make me a happy picker privately.

I'm waiting on a Levys gigbag from another supplier, cardboard not really being very classy, even in this neck of the woods. Will also make a cradle style strap for it.

Someday the Remo Weatherking banjo head will be replaced, but in the meantime it's very suitable.

Now, to drive the family crazy with the thing!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 09:34 AM

The banjo player in our group is very pleased with his 5 string. It has a great tone - is easy to play according to him - and was quite affordable. I had the idea that the parts were made overseas but they were assembled here in the states. I could be wrong about that.

I'm suprised you didn't get a hardshell case with your banjo. I thought they were standard issue with your purchase.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: mandotim
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 10:04 AM

Congratulations! Glad you are enjoying the new baby! I've got one exactly the same, and agree about the tuners; Mine now has waverleys, and all is well with the world. I've also fitted a fiberskyn head, which I think gives a less 'bluegrassy' tone and more of the 'thunk' needed for Irish stuff. YMMV, of course.
Tim

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 10:45 AM

I sold two gold tone tenor banjos to pupils, I think they are great value,.
Im glad someone agrees with me, as I was rubbished on Concertina net, for saying what great banjos[ value for moneywise]I thought they were , .Good banjos.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: BTMP
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 12:33 PM

I understand GoldTone also makes an A-scale 5 string banjo - just wondering if anyone has seen/played/knows someone who has an A scale. -btmp

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Mooh
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 12:37 PM

Wesley...Yes, parts from Korea, assembled in Florida. The retailer insisted there was no case or bag included. That might be just for the Canadian market, I'd like to know.

Mandotim...Yes, I agree about the head, but I'm in no hurry, having overspent my instrument budget this year by 2 or 3 instruments.

Capt...Yes, well, there are a lot of folks who apparently listen with something other than their ears when they judge an instrument...their loss. This forum is full of discussions about what to do to change a mediocre instrument into a good or great one, and though I think this little banjo started off much better than meiocre, the new strings helped a lot and maybe someday so will a new head and tuning machines. But doesn't it burn you to hear folks so unwilling to accept something? Bang for the buck wise, this is a good axe. I've heard way too many vintage/desirable instruments sound like crap simply because they're not set-up and cared for properly, and many great sounding lesser instruments because they were set-up and cared for properly.

Anyway, have had a couple more hours with it and it sounds pretty sweet, maybe not as sweet as the Orpheum I once had long term loan of, but sweet nonetheless.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 12:45 PM

How do you Irish players tune your banjos? The players I've run into seem equally divided between CGDA and GDAE. I have a short necked SS Stewart "tango banjo", and I use the CGDA strings tuned up to DAEB. Since most fiddle tunes don't make use of the low G string, I don't miss it and I don't have to stretch my pinky to get those high notes.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 01:06 PM

I was beginning to think that you had been gyped but looking at the Gold Tone Instruments Website
maybe not. I don't see a case offered on all of the instruments. However it should be pretty easy to pick one up.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 01:21 PM

to guest Jim, GERRY O CONNOR uses CGDA, It has certain advantages it gives a brighter sound, but certain tunes like THE HOME RULER, cant be played as the notes are not there,[ it goes below c]. the advantage of cgda is you dont have to fret higher, thanthe 2nd fret for your top B, Instead of having to go up to FRET 7, and do all that jumping, with the pinky.
If you learn g d a e you can pick up a mandolin and with only a little bit of work you can play both instruments.
I have two banjos tuned different ways,.
you can put a capo on2 fret with cgda, and play along with gdae players, effectively your 2 fret fourth string becomes the same as a gdae players third string. Dick Miles

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Mooh
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 01:56 PM

I use GDAE, an octave below fiddle and mandolin because I'm basically using it the same way as I use mandolin and fiddle. I would like another banjo for other tunings, but...damn priorities!

Wesley...Thanks for supplying the link, I never remember the obvious!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 03:19 PM

I think Fisheye plays a Goldtone. It sounds like a banjo. Slats plays a banjo about 100 years old with a thick vellum skin, and apart from being untunable (yes, it's a banjo) it has, as Peggy Seeger might have said, a nice plunky sound.

None sound anything like as nice as that guitar/mandolin-bodied banjo-necked thing that Joe Stead uses built by Peter Abnett.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 11:58 PM

Gerry O'Connor now plays EADG tuning.

eric

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 12:57 PM

Thanks Captain Birdeye,
I guess what I'm doing by tuning up a tone is the same as putting the capo at II. WhenI find a tune that Goes below D, I switch to the mandolin, which is my main instrument. I have tried GDAE tuning, but it just doesn't cut through on my old SS Stewart, even with heavier strings.

Back to the topic. My musical partner, Al, used a Gold Tone five string for a few years and was very pleased with it. Our first CD was recorded using this banjo and I can't tell the dif between it and his new Deering, which cost about twice the price, by listening to the two CDs. (Don't tell Al that.)

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Mooh
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 04:58 AM

As for strings, I restrung with D'Addario Irish Banjo J631 Nickel Wound (12/16/24/36). D'Addario never lets me down on other instruments, and I like them so far on the banjo, but might search out something else if folks here have suggestions.

Suggestions?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: mandotim
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 05:06 AM

Re; strings. Not sure if you can get them where you are, but Newtones are fantastic. Malcolm Newton does custom sets, and you can have any combination of gauges you like. Website is here
Tim

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Mooh
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 05:10 AM

Yup, Newtones are available within 3 hours drive, unless they'll be charitable and ship to me. Hadn't thought of Newtone for banjo, thanks.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 02:01 PM

Mooh,

I have heard a lot of good things about Gold Tones.

The Twelfth Fret will ship Newtones.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Mooh
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 02:34 PM

Steve...I'll try that, thanks. The 12th Fret used to say they wouldn't ship strings, at least that's how I remember it, but I don't see mention of it on the site now. The Newtones look good...wound second string. Thanks again.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 08:09 PM

A friend of mine in San Diego orders them regularly. I use them on my Five String, they are the best that I have tried for my banjo, and I tried a bunch. I stock up whenever I am in the area.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 10:01 AM

Hi - just thought I would throw my two pence worth about Gold Tones in.
I started with one of their kit banjos about 10 years ago after playing all sorts of bits and peices. Although it has had several modifications, including tuners and a fibreskin head, it has always been an outstanding instrument which I use regularly both for individual and band performances.
I also own a Gold Tone "White Lady" long neck which again has been modified to suit me, and this is also a great player although it takes a bit of work to master the long neck properly.
I have also got a gold tone "travel Banjo" which I normally tune in !A". This gives a great sound and is handy to pop in the car when travelling.
Although I make most of my own banjos these days, I have always kept the Gold Tones as it was on these that I really learned how to put these instruments together.
I have always recomended them to others either beginners or advanced and look forward to playing them for many years yet
Keep pickin'

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 10:41 AM

i bought a used Gold tone 6 string electrified banjo from the US..

http://www.goldtone.com/products/pages/bt-1000.asp

i think its the retail version with factory installed underskin/strings magnetic pickup
and vol control,
rather than a previous owner modification..

i'm very happy with it..

its a solid heavy instrument.. and much better quality
than i deserve for the price i payed..[even including shippping and VAT/import tax]

it would have been far too expensive to even consider buying one from a UK music shop.

the only thing is i'm not sure what the optimun gauge strings are for it.

the last owner has fitted it with heavy electric strings
[maybe 11's or higher.. but unwound 3rd string]


and i've got used to the loud thick dark tone ..

[its been permanently tuned in open Gm for the last tear or so..]

but i am concerned if the heavy string gauge
puts too much pressure on the skin under the bridge..????

its a custom head ["specially designed 12" head (which is adjustment free) "]..
so maybe not very easy or affordable to order a replacement in the UK
if it rips..!!???

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: JedMarum
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 08:52 AM

I love my Gold Tone banjola - great idea, great sound. I beefed up the string gauge and low tuned to E.

I also played a very nice Gold Tone 5 string at a Civil War music/history gathering in the Catskills last summer. It was a great banjo.

Notice the guy in th background of the pic ... on a Gold Tone 4 string. I don;t know his tuning, but he played mostly tunes, plectrum style.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Mooh
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 10:49 AM

Besides the aforementioned Remo Weatherking and Fiberskin heads, are there other alternatives? I'm interested in...sorry, it got the better of me...good head.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 09:35 PM

Mooh,

You should go over to the Banjo Hangout discussion forum. There is a tenor section there, a number of Irish players who can give you advice about heads, bridges etc.

www.banjohangout.org

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Mooh
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 12:06 AM

Steve...Duly visited and registered just now. Thanks. I hadn't been there for years and it seems MUCH better than it used to be.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 07:25 AM

Mooh,

Yes, it is a great site. I'm not sure how it is for Tenor, but it's a terrific site for Bluegrass pickers. Members who post regularly and will answer just about anyone's questions include Kenny Ingram of Rhonda Vincent's band, Chris Quinn, Sonny Osborne as well as some very well respected builders who will help with any technical questions that you might have. Just this week they have added a Member's homepage feature where every member has a Blog, can post photos and sound clips. I think that you will enjoy it.

Steve

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Mooh
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 08:41 AM

There lots more tenor stuff at the hangout than there used to be, and they sure put the lie to the toothless grin banjo picker stereotype. I see a slippery slope ahead.

An aside...As an electric bass player (mostly five string, usually fretless) living in an acoustic and electric world, I've lusted after a bass banjo for years, but it's so far back on the priority list and hard to justify from an employment perspective. Some time ago I had the opportunity to run a five string bluegrass banjo through a digital octave divider effect and the sound was very cool, if a bit synthetic sounding. My bride will kill me if she discovers what I'm thinking!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 12:28 PM

Mooh,

The big problem with the Hangout is that it contributes to BAS (Banjo version of GAS). If you think that your bride will kill you if she discovers what you are thinking you can have her contact mine when I break the news to her about what I have my heart set on. I'm sure that yours will be much less expensive and will soften the blow for you a bit.

Subject: RE: Review: Gold Tone Banjo
From: Mooh
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 02:15 PM

There should be a lonely hearts club for them, Instrument Acquisition Victims Benevolent Fund/Association or whatever...I'm not in the mind to dream up an acronym. LOL! The bride could be Chairperson.


Peace, Mooh.