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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| Goldtone Banjo Uke | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Thu Apr 6th, 2006 02:53 pm |
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1st Post |
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Preston Approved 
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I have had this uke for about 2 weeks. I am fairly new to playing, so am not an expert on instruments but I want to share my impressions. Bought it from Musician's Friend for $279. Also ordered a Goldtone gigbag for it and it is back ordered. The Uke came well set up. Action was just right for me. It is a beautiful instrument. Curly maple headstock and maple pot. the finish is beautiful with no blemishes. Plated hardare is smooth and bright. It has a Remo head. I don't know what brand of strings it came with but I replaced them with Aquilla's banjo uke strings. They came with a wound C string. This did improve the sound. It's fairly large, about 2 inches longer than my concert Jenny. There is lots of room between the strings for my fat fingers. Rosewood fretboard and the frets are well finished. There is a white binding down the sides of the fretboard and the frets are set inside this so there are no sharp edges on the frets. Has a pretty inlay on the headstock and nice inlays on the fretboard. I have a 60+ year old banjo uke that I bought on e-bay from England, and the Goldtone is much bigger and heavier, The tone is, to me , very banjo like and very loud. It is so heavy that I would need to use a strap if playing while standing. The only criticism I have is that the distance from the lower pegs to the fretboard is a little short and the back of my hand pushes against them when I play chords near the top of the neck. This is not a big deal, but when compared to my concert Jenny , the space seems a little cramped. Over all, I think this is a great uke for the price. I am having a lot of fun playing it and love the banjo-like tone. The only problem is that I like the sound so much that now I want to buy a real banjo and learn to play it. I am very happy with this instrument and wish my playing could measure up to the uke's potential.
____________________ My EzFolk Page: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1072 |
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| Posted: Thu Apr 6th, 2006 05:31 pm |
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2nd Post |
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Charlie Approved 
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Hey PRESTON, We have found you again, The Gold tone banjo uke is great, I had one and it was as you say, I sold it and bought a Tyler Mountain banjo uke as it was a little bigger, but the gold tone sounded as good so enjoy it and you can keep up with other instruments as the sound cuts thru. I played with a group and one has a tenor banjo and I could keep up with him, But I could not play like him. keep them strings a bussing Charlie  BTW If you think about another banjo, remember the Dulcijo, Great little instrument.
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21st, 2007 02:19 pm |
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3rd Post |
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BanjoDave Approved
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I have one as well. Although I’m new to playing any instrument (month or so) I started on a Tenor Banjo (short scale) and then decided to get the Gold Tone Banjo Uke which has narrowed the learning curve by about 90%. To be honest I can’t see myself having as much fun on the Tenor now and probably sell it and get a Concert Uke. I also found the pegs a little close to the fretboard but overall I am well pleased with it.
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| Posted: Sun Apr 22nd, 2007 04:52 am |
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4th Post |
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Will Approved 
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BanjoDave wrote: I have one as well. Although I’m new to playing any instrument (month or so) I started on a Tenor Banjo (short scale) and then decided to get the Gold Tone Banjo Uke which has narrowed the learning curve by about 90%. To be honest I can’t see myself having as much fun on the Tenor now and probably sell it and get a Concert Uke. You might consider keeping your tenor banjo; with the right gauge strings, you can tune it like a uke and have a louder, steel string version of the banjo uke. I play a standard 19-fret neck tenor banjo, but I've never played it in CGDA tuning; I use DGBE (baritone uke) tuning. Last edited on Sun Apr 22nd, 2007 04:53 am by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24th, 2007 06:43 pm |
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5th Post |
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jarcher Approved 
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Hi There... Anyone care to post a sound file of the Goldtone? That way, some of us prospective buyers can have a listen. I've been looking at this banjuke (online) for awhile now, but I try to never buy any instruments without playing first (esp. stringed instrmnts ... there's just too many variables and risks), but... that being said, sometimes we have to take a little risk, and it's such a reasonable price...well, i am tempted. I own an older, as yet unidentified banjuke, probably anywhere from the late 1920's to mid-50's. It's unusual, and I've never seen anything like it before. It's all steel ('cept for neck/headstock, of course), with a steel resonater, and funny blue paint job on the neck and fingerboard. It's harsh sounding (to me) and barely playable due to the very tight spacing of the frets (though I have not measured it, they seem even closer spaced than my soprano). If anyone has seen one like this, please let me know. I'll try to post a pict. Back to the Goldtone... can someone tell me if the neck is set up to a concert (in fret spacing, rather than length... I rarely play higher than fret 10) size? This is important to me too, as it seems to be with most of us. Just how did those guys play these, back in the day, hmm? Oh, and Charlie, I'm going take a look at that Tyler Mountain banjo uke, too. Thanks, strummers. James Tacoma, WA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24th, 2007 07:16 pm |
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6th Post |
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Will Approved
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Gold Tone has a video link of their banjo uke being played by John Pearse: http://www.goldtone.com/products/pages/banjolele_dlx.asp
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24th, 2007 07:45 pm |
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7th Post |
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Preston Approved
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The Goldtone banjo uke fretboard has the same spacing as a concert neck. Very easy to play on the fretboard. Much shorter distances to reach than on a 5 string banjo. The John Pearse video is really good. I do have one tune played on the Goldtone banjo uke but it is an early attempt and not very well done I'm afraid. It's titled Clementine and you can hear it on my site here. I am fingerpicking on this one so you don't get a feel for how it sounds when you are strumming it. Also my recording abilities are not the best. Last edited on Tue Apr 24th, 2007 07:46 pm by Preston ____________________ My EzFolk Page: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1072 |
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| Posted: Thu Apr 26th, 2007 05:48 am |
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8th Post |
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jarcher Approved
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Preston, Thanks. That link to the GoldTone website really helped (and the John Pearse clips). I had only seen the Banjolele on Roy Cone's (ukeworld.com) website, and that is the open-back model. I didn't even know they had a resonator model, which is in fact better for me, since I do a lot of busking and don't care to haul an amp around for a uke, however I also have an interest in the George Formby style playing. Now if I can find one for less than the $569 list! I also may get the chance to actually play one soon, as I found a couple dealers here in the Seattle area. Your clip "Clementine" actually gives a pretty good idea of the sound of the Goldtone, do you own the resonator model (the "Deluxe"?), and is that a metronome I hear clicking away in the background? It's good to practice with a metronome (the key to good timing), keep it up! James
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| Posted: Thu Apr 26th, 2007 02:47 pm |
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9th Post |
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Will Approved
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jarcher wrote: Preston, Janet Davis, a musician who runs a music store in Arkansas, sells the Gold Tone resonator banjolele for about $426. Her store is known for providing good customer service. http://www.bluegrasscenter.com/gtuku.html
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Mon Apr 30th, 2007 11:04 pm |
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10th Post |
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jarcher Approved
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Hello Preston (and all), Couldn't find a Goldtone dealer near enough to try out the Banjolele Deluxe, but I'm condfident enough that it's a quality instrument and that I'll be happy doing a mail-order (something I try to not do with string instruments). Since most dealers (Roy Cone, for instance) seem to offer a satisfaction gaurantee, this also helps. I'll keep you all posted how the purchase goes. BTW, does anyone know if the John Pearse video (of him playing Formby style on a Goldtone Banjolele Deluxe ... thanks, preston! http://www.goldtone.com/products/pages/banjolele_dlx.asp#bottom is available for sale anywhere? I've searched the internet with no luck. Thanks much, James Archer Tacoma, WA * * * * *
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| Posted: Tue May 1st, 2007 04:11 am |
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11th Post |
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Preston Approved
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James, My Goldtone banjolele is the open back model.. I think the quality is really great on it..I bought it through mail order also and had no problems with it. The deluxe model should be very loud. Goldtone is a reputable banjo maker. I also have a Goldtone banjo, model Cripplecreek open back. I really like it and it has geeat review for a banjo in it's price class. Good luck. PS> DO a search for John Pearse. I know he has a webpage and sells banjo strings. Perhaps you could contact him about the video. Last edited on Tue May 1st, 2007 04:14 am by Preston ____________________ My EzFolk Page: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1072 |
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| Posted: Tue May 1st, 2007 05:25 am |
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12th Post |
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dickTed Approved 
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Preston. I had a Goldtone banjolele deluxe. I agree it was a nice instrument, but I sold it because it didn't suit me at all. The sound was OK. At first it buzzed, and I put Hilo (wound 3rd) on, which fixed that. I don't get opportunities to jam much except with Zeke who mostly plays uke. The Goldtone was good on the few occasions where I was able to jam with others. In general the thing was a lovely looking and sounding instrument, but when I started playing, it was like starting a diesel. It took a song or two to get me into the action of it. I thought it was too hard - let's say un-invitingly easy - to play. My voice is fairly soft, so the banjo uke easily overpowered it, except when picking, or strumming so softly that the scraping sounds were as loud as the notes played. I tried folding some different pieces of fabric, and placing them between the head and the adjustment rod under the bridge, and playing it with the back off, but I still wasn't happy with it. I like some sustain on my picking notes, and so on ... Furthermore I found it too clumsy, too heavy and too much hassle to clean. Here's a picture of me playing it. Attachment: goldtone&me.jpg (Downloaded 76 times)
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/the_hip_cats http://dickTed.ukeland.com http://HipCats.ukeland.com |
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| Posted: Fri May 4th, 2007 07:37 pm |
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13th Post |
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jarcher Approved
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Anyone want to sell your used Goldtone Banjolele?? (prefer Deluxe model w/resontator, but will consider other). Very close to ordering one new, but thought I'd check first 'n see if anyone wants to off-load there's, first. (BTW, I've put a request on the classifieds as well) Oh yes, I'd consider other similiar banjukes in good, playable condition. Thanks much, and everyone keep playing - everyday, several times a day, at work, and as often in public as you can. James
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| Posted: Sat Jan 10th, 2009 09:13 am |
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14th Post |
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Old Harry Approved 
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Is the back-less one?
____________________ http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/harry |
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