Chances are, you’ve come here because you’ve seen all the hype online about how great the Gold Tone Banjolele DLX is. As with most Gold Tone instruments….this Banjolele is one of a kind and made incredibly well. The attention to detail and dedication to providing the best quality instrument is something that Gold Tone cares a lot about, many other companies out there (More and more sadly) are cutting corners when it comes to production of their instruments, but that’s just not something you’ll find with Gold-Tone.
If you’ve got the dough to shell out for one, they are definitely worth it.
In this Review I’ll be covering everything I’ve found out about The Gold-Tone Banjoleles. Everything from the good to the great, and a few not so great things.
Contents:
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Specs
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Gold Tone’s History
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Pros & Cons
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Conclusion
Specs:
- Neck: Maple
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Bridge: Maple with Ebony Cap
- Tuners: Grover-Style
- Inlay: Snowflake
- Tone Ring: Rolled Brass
- Scale Length 15.5″ (Concert)
- Resonator: 10″ Maple
- Binding: White ABS
Gold Tone’s History
Let me take you back to the late 70s, when people smoked everywhere and the internet wasn’t around yet. Kids played outdoors as much as they could, and disco was huge.
Among the many things you could see and do, if you were lucky you’d end up in a small Florida music shop called “Strings n Things” owned by the founders of Gold Tone, Wayne and Robyn Rogers.
Fact: Each of their instruments are still inspected by Robyn Rogers herself. So you know when you want quality you’ll definitely be getting it.
Here is where they found inspiration for their instruments and started the Gold Tone Group (then known as Gold Tone Banjos).
After great reviews in publications, word of mouth started spreading like wildfire, things were going great for Gold tone. So they launched another line of instruments…..and another….and another.
Today, you can find Gold Tone Banjos, Guitars, Mandolins, Bass, Ukuleles, and many other instruments and accessories.
The legacy of Gold-Tone continues today and they have shown no signs of stopping.
Note: I have not after hours and hours of searching online, been able to find a bad review for these instruments. That is commitment to quality, I find lots of other bad reviews and issues with other Banjoleles.
Pros & Cons
Obviously, when it comes to these instruments and the Banjolele in particular, quality won’t be a con. Gold Tone is known for quality, there is no instrument like it.
Look.
I could obviously sing praises all day, and I will go over all the Pros at the end of this section, but for now I want to start with the Cons.
CONS:
Honestly, most of the cons I found with this instrument are all personal preference because there simply isn’t much that I would change about this Banjolele, of course with the price tag on these that’s to be expected. I’d personally be pretty annoyed if I was paying the price tag they’re asking for this piece and it turned out not to be high-quality.
So, depending on how picky you are (I know I can be sometimes) you could find some things to change that might make it slightly better, for instance these are open gear tuners and I’d rather they be closed gear (So nothing like sand or dirt gets between the gears), but is that really a big deal? Not really.
Most everything I’ve found with this Banjolele is pretty much perfect, however if you look online you will notice this model used to have friction tuners. They don’t anymore, but I would suggest not to buy a used older model with the friction tuners because friction tuners are known to slip pretty bad.
PROS:
I love a lot about this model, but the number one thing I like is that you are able to take out the flange and resonator if you prefer that sound and just having the option is nice.
Number two thing? This Banjolele has a truss rodd, so you won’t have any problems with intonation. Not all Banjoleles have these.
This is the ultimate Banjolele for a Formby lover, On the Gold Tone website even, they say “It’s design incorporates an arched top which lends itself to the playing style of George Formby”. It was basically made to be like the types of Vintage Banjolele’s he played. (Which are extremely expensive in good condition). The only thing I could find different from what he played, was that Formby’s had the friction tuners.
This is going to come out of their factory needing basically nothing done to it. You should be able to play the instrument as soon as you get it, things you might have to worry about with other models such as the action height being to high or the bridge needing some adjustment you won’t have to worry about that on this model.
I really like the neck having a binding around it, It just makes sliding up and down the neck that much smoother and easier.
The tone is absolutely incredible.
Just listen for yourself rather than me tell you about it:
Conclusion:
Everything about this Banjolele is great, and is perfect for the Formby player. I’d recommend this Banjolele to anyone who has the money for it. This is simply an instrument that you can’t go wrong with, like most instruments from Gold-Tone.
I love it, and I love the Banjolele. If you’re considering getting a Banjolele I highly highly suggest you do. These are so fun to play and are the center of attention when you jam out with friends, they work so well with so many different styles and have such a unique lively sound that really adds so much to whatever you’re playing.
This particular Banjolele has a voice however that is very unique and loud, that was of course the idea behind when they made the Banjolele (This instrument was invented because Ukuleles would get drowned out when people performed with them). But even though this instrument was made for a practical purpose, what they didn’t expect was such a magical sound to come from them. I really love all unique instruments like this, (I’ll probably be writing about Banjitars next).
Anyways, I’d say all in all, that this is a great Banjolele and it gets the highest rating I can give to one. The only way it would be perfect is if the price point was lower. They do that, and this would be the right Banjolele for pretty much everyone.