Gold Tone Dojo Deluxe Review
Gold Tone Dojo Deluxe
submitted 12/12/2004
|
Submitter |
maryzcox (see all reviews from this person) |
Where Purchased |
Won it at the Florida Folk Festival banjo contest |
Year Purchased |
2004 |
Price Paid |
Don't Remember
historic exchange rates / currency converter
|
Sound
|
The Elite Classic sounds like an old SS Stewart would if it were in good condition and set up well. |
Sound Rating |
10 |
Setup
|
Yes, the banjo sounded nice with the metal strings when I got it.
I had the luxury of having Ken Miller set it up like a vintage SS Stewart and now it sounds really awesome.
Here are the changes:
4 gut strings, one silver spun silk string for the fourth string
new bone nut/to fit gut strings
moon bridge
new tuning pegs (we kept the actual tuners which were fine, but switched out the bright white plastic for German ones with a little shell in them. They really blend better with the abalone tree of life inlay on the neck, giving the banjo a more vintage glow.
With this set up, I entered the old time band contest at the Florida Fiddlers Convention with a pick up band and we won first. This is a nice sounding banjo, capable of placing first.
It already came with a natural skin head that is perfect for the spun rim dowel construction.
This is such a great head that I'm thinking about putting one or two on some of my other banjos. |
Setup Rating |
10 |
Appearance
|
The abalone tree of life is lovely. This inlay runs over $1500 as a custom option with some other makers. With this banjo costing around $1200--the inlay is an awesome deal. The silver spun rim is very pretty too.
The white real skin head looks wonderful--the peg head is very pretty.
It almost glows at night around the campfire. It is a lovely banjo. |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
|
Too soon to tell--but it seems just fine and certainly worth more than the list price. |
Reliability Rating |
not rated |
Customer Service
|
I met Wayne Rogers after the contest and he is a sincere banjo builder with a generous streak. He tries to bring repros of famous styles to the banjo world at remarkable prices. He also is a solid Florida businessman and really backs the banjo community in many ways.
I knew nothing about Gold Tone banjos until I won this one and as a third generation Floridian--couldn't be happier with this model.
I have never asked for customer service on this banjo--but there do not seem to be any issues on it at this time. |
Customer Service |
not rated |
Components
|
This is not a $20,000.00 banjo. This is not even a $5,000 banjo. It was never meant to be that. The maple neck is pretty plain--but it frets true and fingers easily. Sure--it would be great if the neck was a premium grade rosewood or walnut--but then--you would be talking big bucks.
This is not a White Lady Clone--it is a very reasonably priced, light weight banjo for folks wanting the old spun rim sound in a new banjo rather than an actual vintage model. I don't know if anyone elses even offers a banjo like this. |
Components Rating |
10 |
Overall Comments
|
I have many banjos. (And I'm very pleased with each and every one)
They all have different voices. I keep the Elite Classic in a low A tuning and have it on a stand in my living room. It is the one I pick up and play for myself. I love the sound of the skin head and gut strings in the low tuning. It is so light weight that I can carry it around the house.
When I play an old time dance next Saturday--I'll take it to play all the A tunes because it sounds awesome against a fiddle.
If you are looking for this sound in a banjo--this is an awesome buy.
Please don't steal it--its set up just the way I like it.
I've promised this banjo to my daughter, Natalie when she learns to play the banjo, but the more I play it, the more I think she'll have to get it after I die. :)
If you would like to hear a sound clip of this banjo with metal strings --there is one on the Gold Tone page: www.goldtone.com
Go to endorsing artists and click on Mary Cox to bring up the sound clip. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
|
View all reviews for Gold Tone
>
|
|
|
Feeds