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Originally posted by Bill RogersIt appears to be a Vietnamese neck on a Gold Tone pot. If the neck is functional you have a nice old-time banjo, but of course not as valuable or well-made as one with the right neck.
The stylized S on the peghead makes me think it is a Samick neck on a Gold Tone Tube-a-Phone pot. Either way, you got it cheap so you have a decent player, just not a collector's item.
Yes Sir. I did a little research but couldn't find this (what I thought was a Sammik) anywhere. Could only find artist series with that neck on it. It's got some nice carvings on the heel and headstock. It had taken a little damage to the neck undamaged pot. Originally I was going to strip it and use the hardware for a pot that my uncle built for me. But then I played it. Damage wasn't near as bad as I expected. Guy was a craftsman and had professionally fixed it himself. Did an awesome job. I had the darn thing 2 weeks before I really had time to break it out and give it the real good once over. That's when I noticed the Gold Tone sticker and serial number inside the pot. I almost peed myself. I was like...no way this guy's bottom dollar would be $150. Brand new GT hardshell case with the key even. I'm poor so I've been learning on a couple old beaters. I'm shickled titless to have it.
Congrats. It is an OT-800 pot, as we can see. I have tried one and it was absolutely teriffic. Wether one likes gold tones is a matter of taste, but for sound, I think it is one of the best pots you can find. It is extra deep and with a tubaphone ring, and with a good setup it is close to unbeatable. I have five good banjos (two of them homemade), but (unfortunately) this one beats them, and if I was not married, I think I soon would have six. I do not know where the neck comes from, but if it works, you have a killer machine. See the wideo where Brad Kolodny tells about it and plays it. I love banjos with deep pots, but unfortunately they are not made by so many. Steen
Edited by - steen on 01/25/2025 04:41:48
I'm thinking of ordering an original neck just to get it back right. But the neck that's on it now is awesome itself. I've since dismantled it and reassembled it and set it up. This thing is a BEAST. Can't understand where the negative reviews come from. I'm with Steen. One of the best sounding pots I've played. But I am kinda newbie but I've played a few high end instruments and it's just as good or better than almost all I've played. But hell....for $150 I feel like I owe someone some money.
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Originally posted by PrettyMoneyI'm thinking of ordering an original neck just to get it back right. But the neck that's on it now is awesome itself. I've since dismantled it and reassembled it and set it up. This thing is a BEAST. Can't understand where the negative reviews come from. I'm with Steen. One of the best sounding pots I've played. But I am kinda newbie but I've played a few high end instruments and it's just as good or better than almost all I've played. But hell....for $150 I feel like I owe someone some money.
If that neck works for you, why change it? The OE replacement might not suit you as well.