Stelling Golden Cross
submitted 11/23/2007
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Submitter |
OM45GE |
Where Purchased |
Buck’s County Folk Music |
Year Purchased |
1988 |
Price Paid |
Don't Remember (bought USED)
historic exchange rates / currency converter
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Sound
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This banjo has a rich sound with lots of sustain and wonderful overtones. It doesn’t have the snap of a pre-war Gibson (or the newer ones for that matter), but it holds its own in a hard core bluegrass jam. I like to play an eclectic mix of genres and this instrument suits me perfectly. It sings like an angel. |
Sound Rating |
10 |
Setup
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As I recall, it was set up very nicely, but after a decade of gigging and heavy use, I focused on the guitar and just about stopped playing banjo for a number of years and this languished in its case. We set it up recently with a new head, Snuffy Smith bridge and adjustments to the wonderful Stelling bridge and it came alive. It’s incredibly responsive to adjustments – string gauge, bridge height, etc. |
Setup Rating |
10 |
Appearance
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It’s a Stelling. Need I say more? I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think this is one of the most beautiful banjos ever made. I find it very tastefully done. The workmanship is flawless. It is showing its nearly 20 years of age, but hey, I don’t look like I did in 1988 either and I didn’t start out as good looking to begin with. There are traces of corrosion on the bright work and a couple of dings on the headstock. I like to think of it as the patina of age. |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
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Everything on the banjo is top notch and of the highest quality. Other than the bridge, head and some Keith D Tuners, everything on it is original and as good as ever. I still have the original tuners and only put the Keith’s on for functionality. |
Reliability Rating |
10 |
Customer Service
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I recently contact Geoff for a couple of the adjustable tailpiece screws. He offered to send the new style free for the price of postage. I was so grateful, I bought a couple of things from his store. He answers e-mails personally and is a great man. If you don’t like dealing with Geoff and his fine company, you’re too hard to please. |
Customer Service |
10 |
Components
|
See above |
Components Rating |
10 |
Overall Comments
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I am in love with this instrument. If anything happened to it I would start looking for another Golden Cross immediately. I’ve played a number of great banjos over the years (and some dogs too) and this is my favorite by a country mile.
I got this banjo as a gift from my now ex-wife. I thought it was new, but when I took off the resonator years later I found the Bucks County sticker inside and that's not where she bought it. Either way it's an unbelievable banjo. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
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