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kqpout - Posted - 01/12/2025: 04:16:54
Hi,
I know there's a lot of topic for beginner banjos, but not so much for tenor.
I'm currently playing on a borrowed tenor banjo for some songs with my folk band (folk, celtic, and song covers in irishy or cajun style), and I'd like to buy one. A 19 frets tenor banjo seem to be the more versatile option. My borrowed banjo is tuned chicago-style, but I think I'll tune it GDAE (I'm playing mandolin and irish bouzouki on other songs).
I'm hesitating between a Gold Tone AC-4 (300€), or or Deering Goodtime (600€). Is the goodtime worth twice the price ? A Goodtime II is even more expensive, but I'm more often playing mic'ed and standing, so I don't think I need the closed back. Unfortunately, I can't try either of them and can only buy online.
Thanks
Edited by - kqpout on 01/12/2025 04:30:31
Bob Buckingham - Posted - 01/12/2025: 04:26:45
If you want a good tenor, buy an older one. I have an Vegaphone that I'd sell for whatever those new ones cost. This one is a 17 fret in the original case with a spare 19 fret neck. There must be many more out there for the searching and most would be better quailty than the ones you are thinking about.
Edited by - Bob Buckingham on 01/12/2025 04:27:56
DSmoke - Posted - 01/12/2025: 05:34:43
No, the Goodtime is not worth twice the price. I would never recommend buying a lower end Deering or Gold Tone new. They are "entry-level" banjos and always available used because many people upgrade. Here is a link to an article that I wrote about buying a tenor banjo.
tradbanjo.com/pages/buying-adv...nor-banjo
gbisignani - Posted - 01/12/2025: 06:29:51
I would look in the classifieds here for a Bacon or Vega. You could probably get one for the same price and it's at least twice the banjo.
kqpout - Posted - 01/12/2025: 06:42:48
Unfortunately, I've been looking for a used tenor banjo in my area for over a year, but found nothing.
Those older tenor banjos are more rare here in France, so they're usually more expensive. Even if I'm looking in the whole country with shipping, a well worn Vega can sell for up to a thousand euros, well-preserved Bacons for several thousands. I don't want put that kind of money in an instrument I can't even try...
Edited by - kqpout on 01/12/2025 06:50:04
Old Hickory - Posted - 01/12/2025: 07:46:46
I blieve a beginner banjo is perfectly acceptable for your use, in which it seems you just want to add some 4-string banjo to your band's performances. When you're playing through a microphone in a band situation, the banjo's own natural sound becomes less important. Through a pickup, it becomes totally unimportant. So I think to the audience, the composite AC-4 will sound the same as the wood Goodtime or an even better banjo.
I've played both Goodtime and Goldtone/AC 5-string banjos. They're both fun to play. The AC-1 was surprisingly good sounding to me. I could coax a variety of tones out of it.
Is a Goodtime "worth" twice an AC? Maybe not. But it costs more to build. And some people prefer a wood rim to composite. But some people also prefer a separate fretboard and adjustable truss over none. So each of these banjos offers something the other one lacks.
No one here can tell you how to spend your money.
But I think the AC-4 can meet the need you've described. Down the road, you can add the AC resonator kit or upgrade to a better banjo.
kqpout - Posted - 01/12/2025: 08:12:10
Thanks, I think I will grab a Gold Tone, and if in the future I find a nicer used tenor banjo, I'll keep the Gold Tone as a backup or for chicago tuning.
KCJones - Posted - 01/12/2025: 08:52:36
The Goodtimes are significantly better than the ACs in every aspect other than price. Objectively. Better wood, better tone, better finish, better hardware, better fit/finish, all of it.
It is up to to the individual to decide if these improvements are worth the additional money.
Edited by - KCJones on 01/12/2025 08:53:17
