Gold Tone "Pat Cloud" Banjola
submitted 5/2/2007
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Submitter |
Tom-B |
Where Purchased |
Ebay UK |
Year Purchased |
2007 |
Price Paid |
300 (Pounds) (bought USED)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
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Sound
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It is quiet but has sweet tone with a long sustain makes it very good for playing blues or slow melodies. Has a built in pick-up for use with an amplifier if desired.
Difficult to rate the sound against other banjolas as this is the only one I have heard and of course it cannot be compared to a banjo |
Sound Rating |
8 |
Setup
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Very well set up with a low easy action. It has a built on guitar style bridge.so there is not much additional setting up an owner could do.
|
Setup Rating |
10 |
Appearance
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Very nice looking with MOTS inlays along the side of the fingerboard and body.. Has two strap buttons built on. Came with a solid case. |
Appearance Rating |
8 |
Reliability
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Gold geared tuners seem sturdy enough. The light weight mandolin style body is obviously pretty fragile so I will be careful where I put it. |
Reliability Rating |
8 |
Customer Service
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No contact with company so far |
Customer Service |
not rated |
Components
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The general appeareance and finish is much better than I expected |
Components Rating |
not rated |
Overall Comments
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I'm very pleased with it and would recommend it to anyone looking for an instrument with a different sound. It is quiet for practice but is not really suitable for playing fast rolls etc as the longer sustain tends to knock out your timing. |
Overall Rating |
9 |
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Janish Picker
submitted 3/30/2007
|
Submitter |
Tom-B |
Where Purchased |
Janet Davis Music |
Year Purchased |
2006 |
Price Paid |
4,000 ($US) |
Sound
|
I play a variety of styles melodic, bluegrass, up- picking - none too well though - but I find the Janish good for all of them.
EAsy action.Nice base string and sweet sounding up the neck. |
Sound Rating |
10 |
Setup
|
It was well set up by JMD but I have added a customised Fults tailpiece as I like the solid fitting it gives and AMB cryogenic strings |
Setup Rating |
9 |
Appearance
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It is easily the most beautiful banjo I have ever seen. The colours in the inlays positively sparkle. The contrast between the anthracite and gold is striking and the engraving of the metal rim etc always draws admiring comments. |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
|
The finish and workmanship are outstanding and I am sure it will last for generations. |
Reliability Rating |
10 |
Customer Service
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The warranty is life for workmanship. I haven't requred anything done but the maker Pavel Janish in the Czech Republic responds prompty and helpfully to general enquiry emails. |
Customer Service |
8 |
Components
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It sounds great but there is no doubt the standout quality is its appearance. It truly is stunning to look at. Even my wife's friends don't demur at the cost when they look at the workmanship. |
Components Rating |
10 |
Overall Comments
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It is expensive but it is a work of art as well as an instrument that holds its own very well against the other banjos (Gibsons, Stellings etc) of those I jam with. I thoroughly recommend it and would have no hesitation in buying another. I will be keeping it. Naturally though if I buy an additional banjo I might go for a contrast like a Nechville. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
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