Hi I've noticed my ring-to-rim- fit isn't perfect due to some peeling of the laminate or veneer on the rim. Is this normal for old Gold Stars? It looks almost like stick on contact paper or something... any thoughts?

Pictures would help explain the situation better. If you are referring to the area of the rim beneath the tone ring skirt, it sounds to me like someone has shimmed it with maybe a veneer material to try an correct a really loose rim to ring fit, if so, probably no biggie, but I would try and reattach the material anyway.
George

i cant get my camera phone to take a clear picture. Are all Gold Star rims veneered? It seems like that would hurt the tone...

The flatheads had 3 ply rims and a stellar reputation.  The archtops were laminated multiply and not so much.  I assume this is an archtop.

Gerry

I've owned a '76 G11W Mahogany archtop with a very high quality multi-ply maple rim.
Great banjo as a tube and plate archtop.
I now have a G12 maple archtop from somewhere around the same time period.
This one had a fretboard that was about .030 too long.
Now that I trimmed that back it sounds and plays fine.
Nice playing necks.
I also own a real nice '79 GF85 which I like a little better,but only because I like the deeper notes I get from a flathead.
The GSs have a great archtop sound with plenty of power.
If the rim needs much work you might want to put in a 3 ply because they're so easy to get.

It probably got wet or damp for a period of time.

quote:

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Originally posted by grm405

The flatheads had 3 ply rims and a stellar reputation.  The archtops were laminated multiply and not so much.  I assume this is an archtop.

Gerry

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This info might be generally true,but I have an archtop and though the rim is mulitply,it looks and sounds great. I've had two friends who had 3 ply rims that delaminated,however.

My banjo is a 79 gf85. Number 49 to be made that year. Are the flatheads not supposed to have laminated rims?

I have a '79 GF85 #339 and it's 3 ply.
Yours should be 3 ply,too.

They started making them in '78.

Edited by - steve davis on 02/09/2012 19:43:01

yes mine looks exactly the same but that finish peels off like contact paper. pretty disappointing... 

The finish is lacquer on mine.The lacquer is peeling?

Edited by - steve davis on 02/10/2012 05:00:54

No that's just it- what looks strikingly like a lacquer finish in non problem areas, is actually a stick on laminate of some sort. You can see it when you remove the tone ring- and on mine you can see it without removing it.

Pictures would help any understanding.
The only thing on my Gold Star rim is lacquer.Nothing there to peel on mine.

pictures are crappy and aren't showing anything... I'm telling you, it's veneered though... I think they all are