I just bought a mint condition Golden Wreath on EBay. Don't have it yet but scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I notice that there aren't any comments about this model on this group. Anyone have any opinions or experiences with the Golden Wreath?
6 Comments |
 | RUSTYSTILL says:
2/19/2012 12:26:33 PM
I played with one once ...for my taste I prefer the Calico. Buying an individual instrument on ebay is a crap shoot. The more I know about particular model's general tonal qualities prior to bidding, the better the odds. With guitars, I like mahogany VS rosewood and 12 fret slotheads VS 14 fret dreads so I can confidently bid on a Martin D18S and know if set up reasonably well will sound more to my tastes than a D-28S or other models. Good strings, head tension, bridge and other setup factors can change tone but beyond that different models of Deering have their own unique qualities based on tone ring and resonator.
Both the Gold Wreath and Calico as are all similarly priced Deering's are REALLY nice banjo models. If 10 people here really liked GW better and I bought one on that basis, I would not be as satisfied as I am with my Calico. But both models are GREAT sounding banjos as are all Deerings in that price range. Also, 10 Calico's will likely sound and feel a little different to a discriminating ear. Good luck and hope you enjoy your Gold Wreath. Looks like you got a pretty good deal. Had you played one prior to bidding? Jim
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 | Bob Murphy says:
2/19/2012 1:16:16 PM
I own a Golden Era and have played several Golden Wreaths. They are fantastic banjos. Congratulations! Let us know how you like it when it arrives. Does it have the 06 ring, and the violin maple rim?
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 | billlink says:
2/19/2012 1:54:59 PM
Thanks for the comments. I hope I got a good deal. Really seems like it at this point. I don't think it has the 06 ring. It was advertised as a mint 2004. I'm not sure when Deering started the violin maple rim, but I'm gambling they made a pretty decent banjo in '04!
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| billlink says:
2/19/2012 1:59:23 PM
Also, in answer to your question, Jim, I haven't played one before. I've recently had a couple of Gibsons. Sold one, still have the other. They were very nice banjos, but the tone was too harsh for my taste. The more I listened to people play Deerings, the more I found myself craving that mellow, woody kind of tone they all seem to have. Hard to describe it, just more mellow and sweet than a Gibson.
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 | roady24 says:
2/21/2012 4:53:39 PM
I have a Calico and a Golden Era both '04s and I like them both and I think the '04 tone ring is better than the new one.
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| billlink says:
2/21/2012 5:16:57 PM
Thanks, roady! I got the Golden Wreath yesterday and it's my first Deering so I can only compare it to Gibsons and RKs (plus a plethora of lesser banjos I have owned) but it sounds amazing! I don't know how Deering does it, but they have such a unique tone...different overtone partials or something...that makes them sound so sweet. Right now, I think I have a keeper!
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