Gold Tone: Bluegrass Special BG-250F

Submitted by ljutic213 on 3/31/2006

Where Purchased: AngiesBanjo.com

Year Purchased: 2006
Price Paid: 671.00 ($US)

Sound

I am a first time banjo player...so, I am not exactly good with the different sounds...all I can say is this banjo is exactly what I had in mind...true bluegrass all the way...it has the same sound as the OB-250...the next step up in sound would be the OB-250+

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

The banjo was perfect out of the box...AngiesBanjo.com ships direct from Gold Tone...so, if anybody should know how to set up a Gold Tone, they would...have not changed a thing...

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

For the money, it is beautiful...Gold Tone adds some nice inlays and the finish is amazing...shines like a gem...the banjo is easy on the eyes and gives you a lot of fluff for the money (versus just dots instead of inlays and such)...

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

Once again, I am a new banjo player...but, the banjo seems great for me and I bet it will last a life time with the proper care...besides, Gold Tone offers a Lifetime Warranty...so, you cannot really go wrong...

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

Have yet to deal with Gold Tone...although the banjo was shipped directly from them and it was perfect out of the box (as noted above)...I cannot say enough good about AngiesBanjo.com...Angie is extremely helpful and has EXCELLENT prices (same price as others but Angie includes a hard case and the shipping at no extra charge)...awesome...

Customer Service: 10

Components

Very glad to have a tone ring...sounds great...the inlays are great...and I like the trim around the resonator...to me, it is good as is...maybe someday I will upgrade the bridge...but, I am not sure to what (once again, a new banjo player...like one week new)...

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

Hands down the best banjo for the money...I am an engineer and tend to research topics to death...surfed high and low for about one month and talked with several people before settling on this banjo...

Would replace it in a heart beat if needed...if I had extra cash, I would get the OB-250+ (for the JLS tone ring)...no need spending extra for the OB-250...you get the same sound...you are only paying for a little extra fluff (inlays and such)...

I asked every question under the sun and now have a BG-250F in hand...

For a new player like me or for the intermediate step up, you cannot go wrong...

Overall Rating: 10