Spitfire-Smith - Posted - 02/22/2012:  11:00:48

Hey there everyone!

Well, it's time to upgrade! I currently play an Epiphone MB-200 that has been ok, but after having a couple of quality control problems with it, I decided it's time to upgrade to something a little bit better. I would prefer to buy from a local music shop rather than order online so that I can try out some different models before I put down the cash for them. My question is this:

Anyone out there have much experience with the Gold Tone BG-250? I am looking at this model particularly since it's in my price range and available locally. I have heard some good things as well as some negative comments on Gold Tone in general, but this was mostly on similar models, not this exact one.

I would really appreciate some advice as to what y'all think about the tone and playability of these banjos, as well as the quality and reliability of them. Also, does anyone know if they use dual coordinating rods? I can't tell from the pics on the Gold Tone site. I am just looking for a good quality beginner's banjo that will last a long time and that I can play before purchase. Any advice would be greatly appreciate.

Cheers!

Dwayne

mtnpckr - Posted - 02/22/2012:  11:21:57

two different models, a BG 250 and a BG 250F. The BG250F has a flange and is loud and good for Scruggs style. the BG250 is more of a convertible that can be used for clawhammer or other styles besides Scruggs. Depends on what you want. I have two Gold Tones, an OB 250 and a CC-OT and they are great for the money and really good playing banjos. Actually i was saving up for a BG 250F when the OB250 became available at a great price, so I jumped on it.

Edited by - mtnpckr on 02/22/2012 11:24:37

bensonius - Posted - 02/22/2012:  12:02:32

I played a BG-250 and BG-250F in the same store. The F sounded and felt way better in my opinion. However, I ended up settling on a similarly priced Recording King.

The plain 250 felt kind of "chinsey" for lack of a better word. Plus, I personally feel that while it's nice to have tools that serve more than one purpose in the kitchen, I'd rather have a banjo that is either just a resonator banjo OR just an open back...not "both" (in quotes, because is it really either?)

Spitfire-Smith - Posted - 02/22/2012:  14:51:45

Anyone else have an opinion?

DPTN 54 - Posted - 02/22/2012:  17:54:34

I have the BG-250FW with the wide neck.I think it is a great sounding banjo and it seems to be built very well.When i first got it i checked it good and couldn't find a blemish on it.

I am very pleased with it and with banjoteacher.com (Ross Nickerson) where i bought it

kaybone - Posted - 02/22/2012:  18:10:10

Yep, I sure do. I play a Gold Tone BG-250FL. The "L" stands for lefty (yes, I roll that way)  and the "F" stands for fixed resonator. Well the "fixed" resonator is not really fixed, it comes off easily with the normal four flange screws. I actually came to owning my Gold Tone because of a Yamaha guitar that I bought. I bought this Yamaha Guitar because I wanted to get back to guitar playing and I couldn't afford a Martin D-28 at the time, so I got the Yamaha. And, I was so pleased that for the money I spent on the Yamaha, it was an amazingly great sounding guitar for the price. I still love it. But I always wanted to play banjo too, so that started me on a search for a banjo that would not cost too much (didn't know whether I would stay with it or not), but would sound great for the money, like the Yamaha. So searching around a bit, I ended up on Ross Nickerson's site, Banjoteacher.com. I ended up calling him and he spent a good 40 mins. or so personally talking with me and what would be a good banjo to start with for a reasonable price. He suggested this banjo, the BG-250F. It was the right banjo for me and that's what I still am playing.

So, for the $820 that you will spend on it, it is an amazingly good sounding banjo for the price. It has a wonderful tendency to stay in tune very well, even in odd weather conditions and capo use. As far as the sound goes, well I won't kid you, it's no Huber, with that great cutting high end, or a Yates with that solid low end growl, banjos that are in that $4000-$5000 range, but it still sounds really darn good.  If I had to complain about a few things, and these are minor, I was a little unhappy with the case that came with it. It is solid and all, but it is not screwed together where the sides supports are, just glued, and I am afraid it may come apart someday. My case also does not have locking latches. So far it has held up quite fine.The banjo itself was perfect-no problems at all. Secondly, I would say,  playing way up the neck around those 19,20,21 frets, etc., it's not quite as crisp and cutting as I think it should be, but some of that could be my playing since I've only been playing now for about a year and a half.  But overall, if this is the price range you are thinking, you won't go wrong with this Gold Tone. Oh sure, a lot of the folks kind of roll their eyes at Gold Tones, or Gold Stars, because they are Asian banjos. But they are assembled in Asia then set up in the States by Wayne and Robyn Rogers in Florida. I don't know what your price range is but since you are upgrading form another banjo and if you can spent slightly more, you might want to spring for the OB-250 or OB-250+, I think those start around $1100. 

So the banjo has kind of taken hold of my soul, and I will be honest, now that I have been playing a little bit, I am looking to get another banjo with a little better sound, but at a MUCH higher price range than the Gold Tone. However, I will never get rid of my BG-250FL. It's like having the first car you learned to drive on and I think instruments become a part of you somewhat. That banjo did! And. it will be a great second go to banjo, if i get another one.

So give Ross a call or email ( banjoteacher.com/GoldToneBanjo...OB250.htm, ) I have been to a few workshops with him and he is a great guy and will help you out. His educational stuff is great too. Take a look at his Banjo Encyclopedia.

Edited by - kaybone on 02/22/2012 18:14:09

kaybone - Posted - 02/22/2012:  18:20:07

Oh yes, to answer your question they have dual coordinating rods. Also, don't be afraid to order online they all come from the same place, whether you order from a store or online, and most sites don't charge tax, and sometimes free shipping. Also, the resonator on the BG-250F comes off very easily if you want to pull the back off and try your hand at claw hammer, which I have done a few times. But, great OT sound also comes not only from the open back, but also from those great OT style tone rings like the Tubaphone or White ladye.

Edited by - kaybone on 02/22/2012 18:26:07

pastorharry - Posted - 02/22/2012:  18:39:46

A friend has had one for years, and I always enjoy playing it...very solid banjo, good tone, great playability.

Helix - Posted - 02/23/2012:  03:55:05

It has a 13" resonator capability in the future, it's a shoe banjo, great neck, good rim, great hardware.

Paying $829 ouch.

I've seen and heard these at jams, it depends on the player. They are Maple. It's a Maple voice, until you hear something else, it won't matter. Banjo does not play by Maple alone.

Other custom builders on the hangout might get you more value, that's how that works.

At a price point of $777 I offer Maple Cherry Walnut or Mahogany rim with a Gold Tone Maple kit neck with custom appointments.

A store or music establishment should be able to offer you setup. You can learn how to set up the 5 mechanical adjustments yourself, the banjo is a machine. Some luthiers don't care for that.

From a custom builder, setup should be part of the price. You can't play my banjos first, but you are welcome to stop by sunny Arizona, I have a return policy that is customer-based.

there are reviews of the Helix. If you choose custom, then that smell of wholesale inventory won't enter in.

Some of us play a resonator with magnets so we can choose WHEN to use the rez. That's a true convertible.

Glad to confer off-forum.. I've done rim conversions for several of these, the hardware is good as stated, and, yes, they have double rim rods. I like the straight pull tailpiece. The tuners are like entry level tires on a car.

country frank - Posted - 02/23/2012:  07:38:49

I had the BG250F [fixed resonator] and it was dreadful. Heavy, oversized, clumpy neck [profile], overtones galore and just generally unpleasant. Tried numerous heads/bridges/string guages to try and make it sound better and they all had the same disapointing result = a banjo i didnt want to play.

Buy an RK or a Goldstar instead. Leave the Goldtone alone. Just my 2c, my old dad still has his [BG250F also] and everytime i play it i am reminded of how dismal the thing is, especially for the money.

Spitfire-Smith - Posted - 02/23/2012:  08:15:34

Thanks for the advice everyone! I also managed to find a local dealer for Recording King last night. Now I am thinking that maybe going with an RK35 would be the way to go, since they are close in price range and the RK seems to be to have some better materials. Any thoughts? Also, any other RK models I should be looking at that are sub-$1,000?

mtnpckr - Posted - 02/23/2012:  08:47:10

quote: Actually i think the F stands for Flange, as opposed to the BG250 (no flange).

---

Originally posted by kaybone

Yep, I sure do. I play a Gold Tone BG-250FL. The "L" stands for lefty (yes, I roll that way)  and the "F" stands for fixed resonator. Well the "fixed" resonator is not really fixed, it comes off easily with the normal four flange screws. I actually came to owning my Gold Tone because of a Yamaha guitar that I bought. I bought this Yamaha Guitar because I wanted to get back to guitar playing and I couldn't afford a Martin D-28 at the time, so I got the Yamaha. And, I was so pleased that for the money I spent on the Yamaha, it was an amazingly great sounding guitar for the price. I still love it. But I always wanted to play banjo too, so that started me on a search for a banjo that would not cost too much (didn't know whether I would stay with it or not), but would sound great for the money, like the Yamaha. So searching around a bit, I ended up on Ross Nickerson's site, Banjoteacher.com. I ended up calling him and he spent a good 40 mins. or so personally talking with me and what would be a good banjo to start with for a reasonable price. He suggested this banjo, the BG-250F. It was the right banjo for me and that's what I still am playing.

So, for the $820 that you will spend on it, it is an amazingly good sounding banjo for the price. It has a wonderful tendency to stay in tune very well, even in odd weather conditions and capo use. As far as the sound goes, well I won't kid you, it's no Huber, with that great cutting high end, or a Yates with that solid low end growl, banjos that are in that $4000-$5000 range, but it still sounds really darn good.  If I had to complain about a few things, and these are minor, I was a little unhappy with the case that came with it. It is solid and all, but it is not screwed together where the sides supports are, just glued, and I am afraid it may come apart someday. My case also does not have locking latches. So far it has held up quite fine.The banjo itself was perfect-no problems at all. Secondly, I would say,  playing way up the neck around those 19,20,21 frets, etc., it's not quite as crisp and cutting as I think it should be, but some of that could be my playing since I've only been playing now for about a year and a half.  But overall, if this is the price range you are thinking, you won't go wrong with this Gold Tone. Oh sure, a lot of the folks kind of roll their eyes at Gold Tones, or Gold Stars, because they are Asian banjos. But they are assembled in Asia then set up in the States by Wayne and Robyn Rogers in Florida. I don't know what your price range is but since you are upgrading form another banjo and if you can spent slightly more, you might want to spring for the OB-250 or OB-250+, I think those start around $1100. 

So the banjo has kind of taken hold of my soul, and I will be honest, now that I have been playing a little bit, I am looking to get another banjo with a little better sound, but at a MUCH higher price range than the Gold Tone. However, I will never get rid of my BG-250FL. It's like having the first car you learned to drive on and I think instruments become a part of you somewhat. That banjo did! And. it will be a great second go to banjo, if i get another one.

So give Ross a call or email ( banjoteacher.com/GoldToneBanjo...OB250.htm, ) I have been to a few workshops with him and he is a great guy and will help you out. His educational stuff is great too. Take a look at his Banjo Encyclopedia.

 

---

Spitfire-Smith - Posted - 02/23/2012:  09:45:37

@ Helix, I never actually considered one of your models, but for that price... I definitely have some thinking to do.

country frank - Posted - 02/25/2012:  01:00:16

Dwayne, i also have two of Larrys [Helix] banjos, both archtop woodies [no tone ring or hoop] and for the money you just wont beat them.



Again, forget the goldtone and go for either a Helix or the RK, bear in mind the Helix is all American, hand made to your specs for the same money as an asian mass produced item, very tempting i am sure.



You can find a sound clip from my Helix on Larry's site, track is called 'undone' and the banjo sound is totally unmolested.



good luck!

 

Edited by - country frank on 02/25/2012 01:01:16

yumagah - Posted - 02/25/2012:  21:52:41

   Always best to play the banjos you are considering and then decide which one you like best.  The RK models I have seen did not have better materials than Gold Tone: they are pretty comparable in most ways. I've played two of RK's most expensive models, I'm assuming their cheaper ones would not sound any better.

Mahogany and maple have a different sound, you may prefer one over the other.  The RK's are a little lighter in weight, but also sounded less solid to me. I have asked anyone at Gold Tone about the weight, but it could be they went with a heavier weight to avoid the sort of hollow sound most imported banjos have. To me it sounds cheap.  There are lots of raves here on BHO about the Gold Star brand banjos, but when I finally got to play a GF85 my reaction was "huh?"  It sounded like the Fender or Epiphone banjos selling for $600 or so.  Always go with your own ears tell you.

quote:

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Originally posted by Spitfire-Smith

Thanks for the advice everyone! I also managed to find a local dealer for Recording King last night. Now I am thinking that maybe going with an RK35 would be the way to go, since they are close in price range and the RK seems to be to have some better materials. Any thoughts? Also, any other RK models I should be looking at that are sub-$1,000?

---

desert rose - Posted - 02/25/2012:  23:04:14

I have never seen a single thing Goldtone does even near as good as RK or Goldstar. And Ive seen MANY of all of them. Scott

Spitfire-Smith - Posted - 02/27/2012:  13:01:31

Well I managed to try out a Gold Tone and a Recording King this weekend. Had to drive across the city and the two stores I went to didn't have the exact models I am looking at, but it was interesting to see the difference in build quality between these two brands and my Epiphone MB-200. I think at this point I am leaning towards the RK35, but we'll just have to see what time and money says I should do, right?

5 finger ninja - Posted - 02/27/2012:  16:00:50

I was in the same boat as you a while back and was torn between the Epi mb250 and the RK-35. I decided to pay the extra hundred bucks and get the RK-35 and I dont regret it at all. I dont see how I could ever need another banjo...PS stay away from the mb200 it dont have  tone ring (the mb250 does) and you will be sorry you got it if your playing bluegrass, especially when jamming with others Get the Recording King and be done with it! :)

5 finger ninja - Posted - 02/27/2012:  16:03:03

Sorry I see you already have the mb200 it makes sense now. Best of luck!

Bald-banjo-man - Posted - 02/27/2012:  18:24:02

I went with an Rk-35 when I moved up from a beginner banjo and believe it is a great sounding banjo, especially for the price. The only experience that I have with Gold Tone is the WL-250 that I also own.