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IT-250 Advice: Clamshell Tailpiece, White Ladye Tone Ring, Head, etc.

From David Locky on 11/9/2012 8:10:52 PM

Greetings Folks,

I have recently decided to pick up the tenor banjo but have played celtic fiddle, mandolin, and guitar for close to 20 years. I love picking but my mandolin just gets drowned out without a mike. Plus, the look and sound of these banjos is great! I just received the first of my two banjo purchases in the mail: a second-hand Gold Tone IT-250 banjo and gig bag -- it looks very fine (mostly!) but I would appreciate any advice regarding the Clamshell tailpiece, the White Ladye tone ring, and adjustments.

First, it's a used banjo but pretty much brand new looking, save for a twisted Clamshell tailpiece. I've attached some images. It must have been really banged in either transit or by the seller (a non-player) and there was a significant twist to the side. I removed it and attempted to straighten as best I could but the difficulty lies in not knowing the true orientation of the piece by itself and the position on the banjo. Something doesn't look right to my eye but I've no way of telling. Could someone who has the clamshell tailpiece on their Gold Tone tell me what's wrong or right?

Second, I am uncertain as to whether my particular banjo actually has the White Ladye tone ring. See the attached photos: there is no scalloped edge on the inside as one sees in the Gold Tone catalogue or in other images (like on the Elderly website), just a plain insert into a fold. Also, the tone ring is visible as a matte but shiny cast-looking piece just below the top head ring. That part appears quite heavy and although the banjo in not yet playable the banjo sounds loud! The tone ring does not appear to be like any other I've seen in the catalogue. Is my banjo an anomoly or perhaps an older version of the White Ladye or other tone ring? What do others see on the inside of their IT-250?

Related to the above, is there any way to date my banjo? There's been talk of being able to date Gold Tones by their serial number (first two digits as year, second two as month, last three a units shipped that month), but that doesn't apparently work with my serial number: 2202344.

Third, did your Gold Tone banjo come with adjustment instructions? Only cursory instructions are available on the Gold Tone website but are there not instructions on the dual rods in the pot and the neck adjustment anywhere, paper or pdf? I have a really good acoustic music shop that would know about banjos (Gold Tone dealer) that I could take it to for set-up but I would like to at least consider taking a crack at it myself.

Fourth, what kind of head do I have? It appears to be a Remo Fiberskyn by pattern but it says Remo Weather King on the top. I think it is relatively tight but I will gently take the proper tool to it when I can find one at the music shop (or my tool kit).

Any assistance from fellow Gold Tone owners, particularly the IT-250 folk would be greatly appreciated!

Best,

David 

3 Comments
	David Locky says: 11/16/2012 3:13:52 PM Quick update on this topic: I finally received an email from none other than Wayne Rogers himself at Gold Tone. He indicated, as Quentin correctly noted, that it appears as if the scalloped ring has been removed. He does not believe that it could have left Gold Tone without the ring as it would have been too obvious. In any event, he is sending me (well selling at a nice price) just the scalloped ring and set the order up with one of his associates immediately. I thought that this was very good of him. It will be very interesting to install the ring and compare the sound because I have to admit that I quite like it the way it is, sounding pretty much like all the available sound clips and Youtube videos make it out to be! Incidently, Gold Tone's can be dated by their serial numbers, as Wayne confirmed to me. My serial number is 2202344: 22(2002), 02(February), 344(344th banjo built that month). So, it's relatively old and who knows how it lost is scalloped ring... Best, David
	David Locky says: 12/15/2012 5:21:47 PM As a follow-up, it turns out that the scalloped ring was reversed at the factory. Wayne Rogers emailed me a.custom video of his tech removing a reversed scallop ring that was set up to demonstrate this. I will try this when I get a chance. As an aside, apparently the odd Vega came with a reversed scallop ring in the White Ladye set up and it sounded a little different -- not bad, just different. My IT-250 actually sounds good the way it is so I'll record before and after videos to see if there's a discernable difference. That is assuming that I can remove and reverse the ring...
	David Locky says: 12/15/2012 5:22:06 PM As a follow-up, it turns out that the scalloped ring was reversed at the factory. Wayne Rogers emailed me a.custom video of his tech removing a reversed scallop ring that was set up to demonstrate this. I will try this when I get a chance. As an aside, apparently the odd Vega came with a reversed scallop ring in the White Ladye set up and it sounded a little different -- not bad, just different. My IT-250 actually sounds good the way it is so I'll record before and after videos to see if there's a discernable difference. That is assuming that I can remove and reverse the ring...
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