banjo1930 - Posted - 05/28/2024:  14:36:09

I've had a lot of folks asking for a comparison video of a prewar Gibson and the new Gold Tone Grandee.  So here it is.

banjered - Posted - 05/28/2024:  17:10:18

To my non-BG ears Gold Tone did a pretty acceptable job. banjered

roydsjr - Posted - 05/28/2024:  17:35:47

The Gibson sounded the best but the Gold Tone was not a bad sounding banjo! For no better a picker than I am, the Gold Tone would do the job for me.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 05/28/2024:  17:39:16

I assume it’s made in China. If so, its $3,000 price may well jump to $3,750 when the new tariffs kick in.

Edited by - Bill Rogers on 05/28/2024 17:40:16

klgera - Posted - 05/28/2024:  18:28:03

The Grandee sounds pretty darn good, I may have to buy one!

wrench13 - Posted - 05/29/2024:  05:55:05

I can hear a difference for sure. The Gold Tone sounds a bit.... tanky? Like it needs to open up more, but that will come from time and playing. Its not bad, but the Gibson is clearer, with a more pure tone to the individual notes.

dfstd - Posted - 05/29/2024:  06:11:29

The Gibson sounds great, but the Gold Tone sounds pretty good too. Fantastic playing! Thanks for doing this comparison.

Emiel - Posted - 05/29/2024:  08:50:43

A new banjo can probably never sound the same as an old one, but the Gold Tone will get older too and mature. Sounds very nice this Grandee…

GeeBeeThreefinger - Posted - 05/29/2024:  09:20:11

That PT is astounding. Every note rings fully, incredibly sweet. The Grandee sounds very good, too, but definitely shallower notes. Quicker decay, maybe? As said above, over time the Grandee will open up.

Thanks for the comparison, Gabe!

J.Albert - Posted - 05/29/2024:  11:45:25

The Royal PT has had about 96 years of "aging in" on it.

That's plenty o' time to "open up", I reckon.

The Gold Tone literally sounds "newer" because it is.

Still has a good sound... getting close to "THE sound".

Ten years down the road, I sense it will sound even better.

Now, for a little more variety, I would have like to have heard a Huber Vintage Granada copy "in the mix" as well...

rcc56 - Posted - 05/29/2024:  12:35:19

And a full weight 30's Gibson flat head.
And just for good measure, an upper line RK.

banjo1930 - Posted - 05/29/2024:  13:59:52

It would have been a good idea to add my PB-3 to the mix, but the main point was to compare the Grandee to the most similar prewar I had. That being said, if anyone wants to donate a Huber VRB-G and an upper line RK to the cause I'd be happy to make that comparison video ;)