The Gold Star GF 100HF seems to get good reviews. Does anybody have direct experience of it? Made in China, but that seems to be increasingly common.
Hi Laurence
Gold Stars have a good reputation across the board,however the vintage GS made in Japan in the late 70s,early 80s really shine.
Pretty much rival anything out there
I've had several early GSs over the yrs. I'm a fan
Good luck
E
Good ones and not so good ones. I have had an early Japan one. They gained an almost mythical following. But honestly, it was not better than the RK's you can get today. I also have had a couple from the 2000's era, which seemed to be better than the 1980s versions. It's probably hit or miss.
quote:
Originally posted by Brian MurphyGood ones and not so good ones. I have had an early Japan one. They gained an almost mythical following. But honestly, it was not better than the RK's you can get today. I also have had a couple from the 2000's era, which seemed to be better than the 1980s versions. It's probably hit or miss.
I guess I've been lucky.
Everett
quote:
Originally posted by Brian MurphyGood ones and not so good ones. I have had an early Japan one. They gained an almost mythical following. But honestly, it was not better than the RK's you can get today. I also have had a couple from the 2000's era, which seemed to be better than the 1980s versions. It's probably hit or miss.
I believe that the early, 1970-80's Japanese-made Gold Stars gained their "mythical" reputation because they were so much better than anything that Gibson was producing at that time.
The Japanese Gold Stars were probably closest to vintage "pre-war" Gibsons in both tone and aesthetics than anything else in the market, at that time, until Greg Rich showed up at Gibson in the 1980's and restored some of Gibson banjos glory, for a few years.
Japanese GSs developed a "mythical" following due to their mythical tone.
Not everyone could here this tone, or describe it,or tell the difference from other banjo tones,but it was there.
You'll know it when you hear it.
E
I believe that the early, 1970-80's Japanese-made Gold Stars gained their "mythical" reputation because they were so much better than anything that Gibson was producing at that time.
The Japanese Gold Stars were probably closest to vintage "pre-war" Gibsons in both tone and aesthetics than anything else in the market, at that time, until Greg Rich showed up at Gibson in the 1980's and restored some of Gibson banjos glory, for a few years.
Absolutely they were better than the RB-250 at the time or the Ibanez/Arias, etc. Ome was expensive, as were Liberty and makers like Ty Piper. I got mine from a regional pro, who had Chris Warner put a Ryan tone ring in it. As I recall, many people were buying these early Gold Stars and swapping out the tone rings. It was a good banjo, but not great. At the time, it was the best alternative.
I was looking for a decent sub $2000 flat head. I guess those early JD models are pretty scarce. I’m blaming Russ Carson for that!
Those early Crowe models are something
I owned one in the mid 90s to 2008 or so
I also had a mahogany wreath GS damn near as good
Reality is
Any banjo is only as good as the individual playing it
Good luck
E
GS fan here & an early Saga dealer . I purchased many early GS rings , flanges , etc. from Saga @ dealer cost for my shop & put them in non Mastertone pots for conversions including a 32 walnut TB2 that has been my go to banjo forever . Like these many posts have revealed here , things change , especially materials , players , & manufactures , ---- so many variables , so many comments , it's what makes this site interesting IMO . I've even tried to buy back some of my conversions but no luck 
Everett, I'm a Gold Star fan. You said you got rid of two old Gold Stars.
Would you mind telling me what you're playing these days?
Is it better than the Gold Stars? Bill
Hi Bill
I actually sold 3 GSs
I'm casually selling all my banjos
I'm playing the project/parts banjos I have that there seems to be very little interest in.
Good banjos that are fine for the little bit of playing I'm doing these days
Thanks
E
I once played a couple of GF85's that were brought here with their tourist owners from the USA. I met these guys via the BHO here. I played them and was unimpressed. They looked well made but sounded rubbish. These are the only two I have seen here until recently until I was asked to set one up for a local music store. My opinion changed and was thinking of purchasing it had it not been over priced IMHO. A little later one came up on out national auction site out of town. While visiting family closer I was able to visit the seller and play it. It did not sell on the auction site so I bought it. I set it up to my liking with a bridge made by a maker here and was very impressed with the sound. It had a 'dry crack' to it as opposed to my RK80. I fitted another bridge by the same maker and it improved the tone remarkably. My GoldStar (made 2005 in China) is my banjo of choice.
Hi Everett, Thanks for your answer. I appreciate it. I'm in a similar situation
as far as having several banjos and not playing very much. I haven't been
a seller in the past but it might be something to consider. Bill
If you're buying new, I think the retailer matters for any import banjo.
Gold Star, Gold Tone, and Recording King all make good products of comparable quality, but I've seen a wide range of QC and setup for all 3 brands, depending on the retailer.
I recently bought a Gold Star ( manufactured sometime in the 2000s) to use as a travel banjo. I am fortunate in owning 2 high-end banjos ( $5000 - $6000 range), and I could not bear the thought of flying with one of those. When a very dear friend, and fellow musician, asked to come play a special event with him in Florida, I bought a Gold Star to fly with. I'd hate for anything to happen to any banjo, but if the airlines is going to break a neck, I could manage better if it was a $1200 banjo instead.
Here's the real kicker : I tweaked the set up, put a new head on, a Snuffy bridge, new strings, and I was totally blown away !! I'd originally intended to sell the Gold Star after the Fla gig, but not now !! It is crisp, has great note separation, the tone is awesome, and I love the neck,... honestly, I play it more, and like the sound better than my Greg Rich era Gibson... a whole LOT more !! If you want to talk about hype,... don't get me started on "Greg Rich era" banjos. My GR era Gibson is OK,... but really sub standard construction ; neck set crooked to the pot, ETC. Buy the Gold Star !!
FWIW, I had a Japanese GF-200 that was a great banjo. It was, however, a little too "in your face" for my liking. I sold it to a student, and every time he came over I thought, "That's a good sounding banjo." So at some point, I took back in exchange for a few months of lessons.
A few years later, I traded it for a Nechville with Tom. We put it on the web site. It was actually purchased by Saga, where they used it for a prototype of the reissue.
About a year ago I bought a GF100-JD. Great mahogany banjo.
I love gold stars. Around 2005 maybe I had to sell a nice stelling to pay some college tuition fees , to keep a gigging banjo a got a band new GF200 for about £850- it looked and particularly sounded as good as my previous 1989 Gibson ESS. I’d get a GS again but period I was looking for an excellent playing sounding banjo I’d get a Gold Tone Twanger used, they are fantastic!!
