Gold Tone: PS-250 Plectrum

Submitted by Aerrtvaa on 9/18/2011

Where Purchased: banjostore.net

Year Purchased: 2010
Price Paid: 658 (EUR) historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

Great sound for trad jazz. I play in a big band (10 brass horns) and the banjo will cut through most of the time.

Having only played cheap (aluminum rim etc) banjos before this one, I was very happy with the sound of a real (mastertone style) banjo and it always brings a smile to my face when i play it. Obviously it's not a top of the line model, but I don't think there's any plectrum banjo in that price range that comes close sound-wise.

Sound Rating: 8

Setup

Setup was good. I always do some tinkering with a new instrument, but there wasn't really anything that needed changing. It has all the normal setup options and everything is easily adjusted to any specific tastes.

Setup Rating: 9

Appearance

I think it looks perfect. Clean hearts and flowers inlays, beautiful wood and solid-looking metal parts. Nothing ostentatious, just pure class. It looks like an instrument that wants to be played.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

All the hardware feels solid. Finish also good, I have owned it for a year and a half and so far finish still looks like new (after some polishing). I have great faith in its reliability and trust it completely

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

I have not had any direct dealings with Gold Tone. The warranty does not apply to banjos owned by non-US residents.

Banjostore.net was great to deal with, and I would recommend anyone in Europe interested in buying a banjo to check them out. I received answers to all my emails within 15 minutes!

Customer Service: 5

Components

The original plastic parts on the tuners were weak, two of them cracked and needed to be replaced. Other than that, no problems at all. It has the most solid-looking tailpiece I have ever seen on a banjo.

Components Rating: 7

Overall Comments

All in all, it's a great banjo at a very attractive price. It's the only quality plectrum banjo in production in that price range that I've been able to find. If it was stolen I would probably buy the same model again.

Also, if you're a jazz player, plectrum is so much cooler than tenor :)

Overall Rating: 10