Eli V - Posted - 02/22/2026:  13:04:47

I'm looking to upgrade to a banjo that resembles the tone of an RB-3 or RB-75. I think I have narrowed it down to two banjos that resemble what I want and are in an acceptable price range. I am looking at the Gold Tone OB3 Twanger and the (new) Gold Star GF100 JD Crowe. Both seem to have great tone and quality from my research, and are designed very similarly. Was wondering if anybody has any experience with any of these banjos, or both. Any info or opinions would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

jdskyler - Posted - 02/22/2026:  14:16:07

Either of these banjos is going to be a real upgrade from the rk-20, that I see you have. I don't have any personal experience with the Gold Star but there are lots of positive reviews out there.

I do have an OB-3RF, purchased last summer as a move up from my old Japanese Masterclone from the 70's, so far I have been real happy with the instrument. The neck is comfortable in my hand, I hear varying opinions on the neck, it's too big or the finish too thick. But as feel goes it's very similar to the neck on my other Banjo. The radiused fret board was a change but it didn't take any getting used to and I am enjoying that change. It's heavy, it's loud and it sounds good all the way up the neck.

My guess is you would be happy with either of the instruments. If you are going to buy new, I would go through a dealer who actually knows Banjos so you can get a good setup to start.

KCJones - Posted - 02/22/2026:  14:45:42

Why not a Recording King? Better option IMO than the GS or GT offerings.

jdskyler - Posted - 02/22/2026:  15:14:01

quote:

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Originally posted by KCJones

Why not a Recording King? Better option IMO than the GS or GT offerings.

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As far as I know, there are no new Recording Kings being made. The Recording King and Loar brands have both been aquired by St. Louis Music company and, I guess, they are still figuring out what to do with them. They did fire all the talent though which kinda stinks.  G. Rich (the guy who made Recording King such a good bunch of instruments) is now working with GoldTone, for what it's worth. 

KCJones - Posted - 02/22/2026:  16:21:36

I mean the RK designs are the same and you can still find them everywhere. It's not like Greg Rich is personally building the Gold Tones. Marketing is magical.

Gold Tone makes great open backs but I've never been impressed with the tone (or neck feel) of their flathead resonator lineup. Every modern Goldstar I've seen had QC/Fit/finish issues. 

Your best bet is to find a retailer that offers free returns, and buy all 3 options. Return the ones you don't like. Or, if you can, compare them in a showroom, but that's hard to find. 

Edited by - KCJones on 02/22/2026 16:25:20

RK-FenderPartsBanjo07 - Posted - 02/22/2026:  17:15:58

quote:

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Originally posted by KCJones

I mean the RK designs are the same and you can still find them everywhere. It's not like Greg Rich is personally building the Gold Tones. Marketing is magical.

Gold Tone makes great open backs but I've never been impressed with the tone (or neck feel) of their flathead resonator lineup. Every modern Goldstar I've seen had QC/Fit/finish issues. 

Your best bet is to find a retailer that offers free returns, and buy all 3 options. Return the ones you don't like. Or, if you can, compare them in a showroom, but that's hard to find. 

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I didn't want to mention RK because it wasn't on your list of options, but I also feel like they are a superior banjo. I don't know how to describe it, but every flathead gold tone I've heard or played has sounded hollow, and the necks feel chunky. 

I've never owned a gold star, but I have played several, and I do like the neck feel of them. I've never owned one, so I can't speak to the bulid quality. 

Eli V - Posted - 02/22/2026:  17:21:25

quote:

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Originally posted by RK-FenderPartsBanjo07

quote:

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Originally posted by KCJones

I mean the RK designs are the same and you can still find them everywhere. It's not like Greg Rich is personally building the Gold Tones. Marketing is magical.

Gold Tone makes great open backs but I've never been impressed with the tone (or neck feel) of their flathead resonator lineup. Every modern Goldstar I've seen had QC/Fit/finish issues. 

Your best bet is to find a retailer that offers free returns, and buy all 3 options. Return the ones you don't like. Or, if you can, compare them in a showroom, but that's hard to find. 

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I didn't want to mention RK because it wasn't on your list of options, but I also feel like they are a superior banjo. I don't know how to describe it, but every flathead gold tone I've heard or played has sounded hollow, and the necks feel chunky. 

I've never owned a gold star, but I have played several, and I do like the neck feel of them. I've never owned one, so I can't speak to the bulid quality. 

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I currently have a recording king and I love it. And I was researching the elite series from them which I think is also designed similarly. But everywhere I read pointed to the 2 banjos I mentioned above, with only a few people reccomending the RK's. From what I gathered the RK is great but isnt quite as powerful sounding as the other 2. But I also haven't played any of the 3 models to know for myself since im just going off what im reading from others

RK-FenderPartsBanjo07 - Posted - 02/22/2026:  17:28:24

quote:

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Originally posted by Eli V

quote:

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Originally posted by RK-FenderPartsBanjo07

quote:

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Originally posted by KCJones

I mean the RK designs are the same and you can still find them everywhere. It's not like Greg Rich is personally building the Gold Tones. Marketing is magical.

Gold Tone makes great open backs but I've never been impressed with the tone (or neck feel) of their flathead resonator lineup. Every modern Goldstar I've seen had QC/Fit/finish issues. 

Your best bet is to find a retailer that offers free returns, and buy all 3 options. Return the ones you don't like. Or, if you can, compare them in a showroom, but that's hard to find. 

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I didn't want to mention RK because it wasn't on your list of options, but I also feel like they are a superior banjo. I don't know how to describe it, but every flathead gold tone I've heard or played has sounded hollow, and the necks feel chunky. 

I've never owned a gold star, but I have played several, and I do like the neck feel of them. I've never owned one, so I can't speak to the bulid quality. 

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I currently have a recording king and I love it. And I was researching the elite series from them which I think is also designed similarly. But everywhere I read pointed to the 2 banjos I mentioned above, with only a few people reccomending the RK's. From what I gathered the RK is great but isnt quite as powerful sounding as the other 2. But I also haven't played any of the 3 models to know for myself since im just going off what im reading from others

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I have played numerous different models at various camps/events/festivals, and the RKs always sound better. In my opinion, I am most definitely biased because I own an RK parts banjo. The Gold Stars often sounded better than the Gold Tones. The Gold Tones just sound flimsy. I also prefer the feel of the Gold Stars. All of this being said, I do not own either of them and I have no clue as to the build quality of either instrument. And the tone is most certainly a matter of personal taste.

banjoez - Posted - 02/25/2026:  12:19:34

I've had multiples of both banjos. I'm a big fan of the OB3 Twangers. They have a more responsive tone than the JD's as well as volume. RK's are somewhere in between. Build quality has been much improved at GT over recent years. Setup is the key factor no matter which way you go. Good luck with your decision.

O.D. - Posted - 02/25/2026:  14:59:46

quote:

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Originally posted by banjoez

I've had multiples of both banjos. I'm a big fan of the OB3 Twangers. They have a more responsive tone than the JD's as well as volume. RK's are somewhere in between. Build quality has been much improved at GT over recent years. Setup is the key factor no matter which way you go. Good luck with your decision.

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Joe

How do these banjos stack up against a Vintage Japanese Goldstar flat head in your opinion?

E

banjoez - Posted - 02/25/2026:  15:13:22

quote:

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Originally posted by O.D.

quote:

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Originally posted by banjoez

I've had multiples of both banjos. I'm a big fan of the OB3 Twangers. They have a more responsive tone than the JD's as well as volume. RK's are somewhere in between. Build quality has been much improved at GT over recent years. Setup is the key factor no matter which way you go. Good luck with your decision.

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Joe

How do these banjos stack up against a Vintage Japanese Goldstar flat head in your opinion?

E

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I don't want to sound like a broken record and I know many  on here don't like GT for various reasons but I don't think there's been a better sounding import than a Gold Tone OB3 in my 50+ years of messing with these things and that includes quite a few GoldStars old and new. I say this without having any connection to GT. I never really cared for the older Gold Star necks either. Clunky to me. That's my 2 Cents worth (and that's about all it's worth) 

O.D. - Posted - 02/27/2026:  07:26:20

Thanks for the reply Joe

E

About necks

The  best playing neck for me is a Hatfield  conversion neck he made me a number of yrs ago.

Edited by - O.D. on 02/27/2026 07:29:48

1935tb-11 - Posted - 02/27/2026:  08:42:33

i don't mean to discount joes time spent and opinion about the old gold stars of the 70s and early 80s ,, but most of the ones i have played sounded great... some were very close to pre war gibsons.. not all ,, but the 100s and 200s and JD models were built so close gibson (allegedly) threatened to sued them.... but never did.

joe is correct about the necks ,,you have to get use to them... a bit heavy.

i had chances to buy 2 of them and passed like an idiot. they are getting very hard to find at reasonable prices anymore