Posted by Paul Roberts on Tuesday, December 9, 2014
The Missing Link by Béla Fleck
I'm proud to offer this exciting instrument at my Gold Tone site BanjoCrazy.com. Here are a couple of good videos of Béla playing the Missing Link (Gold Tone model ML-1) accompanying his wife Abagail Washburn on "Railroad." It's interesting to hear how the baritone banjo's sound contrasts with the two different banjos Abagail plays on the two recordings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j436p7WCCQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QNN9D37uGo
The following is from Gold Tone's website.
Inspired by John Hartford’s love for low-tuned banjo, Bela Fleck conceived the Missing Link, Baritone Banjo.
Bela’s previous experience with the Gold Tone Cello Banjo brought him to Wayne Rogers. The two collaborated in the design and, after many months of experimentation and various challenges, we are ecstatic to present the ML-1!
To produce the lower tone with a traditional sound in the lower register, we use a 12 inch, 3 ply Maple Rim with a Bronze Tone Ring.
After Beta Testing a variety of neck and bridge options, Bela signed off on the Compound Radius (5”-9”) Ebony Fingerboard attached to a Hard Rock Canadian Maple Neck and a Cathedral-like Radius Bridge standing 7/8” over the signature black Remo head.
Jumbo Frets, our exclusive Terminator Tailpiece and our Patented ZerO Glide Nut complete the perfect formula for the throaty ML-1.
Bela’s Noveau inlay design courses the length of the fingerboard and finishes on our C-Cut Headstock. Black Binding, Black Tuner Buttons and the Black Head create a bold, autonomous look.
WOODS |
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| Neck | Maple | Resonator | 14″ Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Campound Radius: Ebony | Bridge | Maple w/ Ebony Cap; Radius-3/4″ |
FINISHING TOUCHES |
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| Wood Finish | Vintage Mahogany | Fingerboard Inlay | Noveau |
| Headstock Inlay | Noveau | Neck Binding | Black Abs |
| Body Binding | Black Abs | ||
PARTS & HARDWARE |
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| Nut | ZeroGlide Bone | Tuners | GT Master Planetary Tuners |
| Tailpiece | Terminator | Flange | N/A |
| Tone Ring | Bronze Bar Style | Strings | CGCEG – .018, .022, .028, .038w, .018 |
| Rim | 3-Ply Canadian Maple | Plating | Chrome |
| Tension Hoop | Brass; Notched | Arm Rest | Gold Tone Engraved |
ELECTRONICS |
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| Pickup | Optional Gold Tone SMP+ Magnetic Pickup/Gold Tone ABS Clip-on Microphone System or Fishman pickup | ||
OTHER FEATURES & OPTIONS |
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| Case Options | Hard Case Included | ||
DIMENSIONS |
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| Scale | 26-1/4″ | Weight | 10 lbs |
| Nut Width | 1 5/16″/33mm | Frets | 22 |
| Head Size | 12″ Remo black swead | ||
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