A guy I know has a Gold Tone tenor. It's on the smallish side and may be called a travel banjo or something like that. Nevertheless it's a fine banjo. He made it from a kit and I was really impressed with the sound of it. I have tried Gold Tone 5-strings and am generally impressed with them too for banjos in that price range. Their Whyte Laydie is a very nice banjo. I know nothing about Ozark.
cheers steve,the gold tone is probably a short scale tenor,as for the ozarks they are korean made and i think that they are only available in the uk,but in the usa the same banjo has the name morgan monroe on it.
Just last month I got a Gold Tone IT 250, their "best quality" 17-fret tenor banjo. It's a decent instrument--easy to play, well set up, good tone, and well made. I bought it for its short scale length (easy to get around on with the left hand) and value for price (I paid about $550 US, without a resonator but including a hardshell case. I think the resonator adds another $90).
It's small enough to fit in phonebooth sessions, but projects well without being too loud. The neck is really a joy to play on, and the whole package looks good, too. Fiberskyn head, very clean chrome finish on all the metal parts, nice inlays, etc. I'm very happy with it. BTW, though the company is based in Florida, Gold Tones are made in Korea. Final assembly and set up are taken care of in the Florida shop. They seem to know what they're doing.
P.S. For just a little more money than your stated price range, you could get a Tom Cussen banjo (starting at around 1,000 Euro). See http://homepage.eircom.net/~tomcussen/
This has absolutely nothing to do with the thread, but seeing the name "Banjo Billy" caused me to remember something from my childhood. In Miami, Florida, during the early sixties, there was a local kids TV show called "Banjo Billy's Fun Boat". The stage was set up like an old river boat and Banjo Billy showed cartoons with a small, live, audience of children. Banjo Billy's nemisis was a puppet named "Al Alligator," who would appear behind Banjo Billy to the screams and great concern of the children in the audience. Whenever Banjo Billy turned around to see what all the kids were screaming and pointing about, Al Alligator would disappear every time.
The mom of one of my good friends surprised him by taking us all to Banjo Billy's Fun Boat to celebrate his birthday. The first time Al Alligator appeared we all screamed and pointed and Banjo Billy, doing his usual schtick, acted like he didn't know what we were concerned about. I jumped from the small seats, ran over to the ledge where the alligator had appeared and ripped the puppet off the man's hand on camera. I had to sit in the studio lobby for the rest of the show.
And so ended a bright career in alligator wrestling... LOL
Billy, you'd pay about double what my IT 250 cost, and most of that is no doubt shipping. Why not put the money into the instrument itself? If those Cussens sound half as good as they look, you'll be happy.
as i also intend to upgrade my tenor banjo, i visited Cussen's site. I would like a 17 fret banjo and i wonder why they are only open back (in his catalogue at least)?
Has anyone other adresses in Europe?
Paul
I bought an excellent version of the gold tone put together by Andy Perkins in Faversham, he looks at this site so he might comment himself but essentially my understanding is that it has a gold tone banjitar rim with a tenor neck and tone ring fitted. This is much thicker than the standard rim and gives the banjo a great sound, thick and powerful with a solid plunk. Mine is an open back 17 fretter and as mentioned elsewhere on the list it is ideal if you travel as it can be easily taken on board the plane. Its volume belies its size however - this is a loud banjo!
I understand that he has been having a lot of success with these hybrids and some of the players that use them have performed vvery well at the All Ireland Championships. I am certainly very happy with mine.
Eamonn Coyne plays a banjo made by David Boyle, Leixlip, Co Kildare, Ireland which is an excellent model. There's another good player in the pub who has one too but his name escapes me.
He doesn't seem t have a web site but his e-mail address is
I just received my Gold Tone IT 250 last night. As a guitar/flute player picking around on it for a few hours, I like it. I'm sure it will take a few months of playing and learning banjo details before I can really tell how good it is but so far so good.
I paid $538 for it with a nice hardshell case from http://banjostore.com/. However, as mentioned above, I wouldn't pay &163; 645 for it. I would either look for another supplier or find a model available in Eurpoe and save on shipping.
Eddie
(Hmm, no post preview, I tried to entry 645 pounds sterling above in case it doesn't display properly).
John J, a good friend of mine, Kevin"Foxy" Finucane plays a Boyle banjo. They are great instruments; Foxy owns the first one that David made. He showed me a pic of Kieran Hanrahan playing one on a CD cover, so your supposition is right - they are not cheap instruments!
thank's for all the reply's,i am probably going to get one of tom cussen's banjos now,for the sake of an extra couple of huedred pounds i think it would be better than a korean made banjo.
Dear Billy,
Why not look at www.boorinwoodmusic.com.
BT75T Chrome with heavy tone ring ( made in Korea ) comes with a complimentary set of proper eadg tunning strings instead of
" C " tuning ones fitted
J.B
i have just read on another forum that the tom cussens banjo's or clareen are made from kits,apparently the same kits as dave boyle's banjo's are made from???
Um...my Gold Tone came with GDAE strings on it. It was even in tune when I opened the case directly after shipping.
Billy, banjos from pre-fabbed parts doesn't mean they won't be high quality. Most makers find it more efficient and cheaper to buy parts than make them themselves. Why reinvent the wheel (or the rim, as the case may be ?
i understand what you are saying,but i was only stating what was written on another forum,they were someone elses words not mine.....i don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing,i am open to other peoples opinions.
"i have just read on another forum that the tom cussens banjo's or clareen are made from kits,apparently"
Misleading. Tom farms out some of his work (I think maybe neck blanks, some other stuff?) but much of his work is done in-house--I've seen it going together in his shop.
Listen to players who use the instruments you're interested in, until you find someone who makes you go "THAT's the sound I want to make." A much better criterion.
...and then cough up 2000-3000 Euro for some top-of-the-line banjo only to find you still don't sound as good as so-and-so. (Sorry Chris, just couldn't resist.
Just for variety's sake, I'll throw a different wrench/spanner into the mix. 500-600 quid translates into the $1500 (Canadian) range and for that kind of money one can purchase a vintage tenor banjo in excellent condition. One of the local shops often has good tenors in stock that are beautiful to behold as well as play. Old Gibson, Vega, Paramount, Bacon & Day etc. banjos can be had for that money. An excellent local player here has an open back Vega tubafone short neck tenor and it has the warmest sound imaginable.
Oh, and as Will says above - any good banjo is delivered in tune. Mine's been in tune since the day I got it.
I've got an IT-250 and it looks and feels great, but I get a very "flabby" sound on the G string (GDAE). What strings (gauges and brands) do people use, especially with a Gold Tone IT-250 (others' scale lengths may dictate different strings)?
don't know if anyone will still be looking at this thread but, for what it's worth, the gold tone component built banjos are excellent value for money. personally, i'm not that impressed by the IT-250 (though it's a lovely little neck, dimensions based on my 1917 tubaphone neck) - it works much better with thicker rims and heavier tone rings. they are also much cheaper than indicated on this thread - the basic IT250 is around
don't know if anyone will still be looking at this thread but, for what it's worth, the gold tone component built banjos are excellent value for money. personally, i'm not that impressed by the IT-250 (though it's a lovely little neck, dimensions based on my 1917 tubaphone neck) - it works much better with thicker rims and heavier tone rings. they are also much cheaper than indicated on this thread - the basic IT250 is around
Tom cussen or dave boyle are you men. I've bought a pearl model banjo off tom and it cost me 1400 euro. I've been to his shop a few times and he's the kindest man you'd ever meet. He has a lot of other banjos up there for cheap prices. You'd get a brand new special model banjo off him for around 800 euro. Great sound off of them and the action is good too.
Dear .....,
Re the not so nice unfounded remaks re T.C. banjos, I think it would be terrific if people would made a reasonable attempt to check their facts before stating as fact their wishful thinking.
I do understand some begrudge anyone a reputation that they cannot achieve themselves.
I was a sales rep for many years calling on music shops incl. the said T.C. There was very many banjos of different qualities ( price brackets ) under construction. stacks of necks some finished , others being inlaid, others only just glued " bits of timber "
Tone rings, holding down rims , heads & screws ( metal parts )are bought from outside ok. It would be better for those trying to slander / lower his standing go there & see for themselves . He even makes the resonators. One can see them under construction beside the lathes or on it .
J.B
I think that you have expertly exposed the ridiculous comments made about T.C. banjos. He was recommended to me by a highly regarded player and if the banjos were not top quality I'm sure they would not have been recommeded. Thanks for you comments.
As an aside, I have tried several times to contact Boorinwood by email about your TB strings but have not received any reply. I would definitely like to try them. Perhaps, the emails did not go through?
I have tried most makes of both vintage USA and modern European and USA tenors. Many vintage tenors are excellent, and USA based players should have no trouble getting a good vintage instrument at a good price (e.g. Vega, Weymann, Bacon & Day - forget Gibson, great but too expensive). The sticking point may be scale length, as shorter scales are harder to find. There are several good current makes in the UK, including the best I have recently heard/ handled - the Erin model sold by Eagle Music - an extremely well made Gibson clone. Try Steve Noon, at , if you want more details of the Erin.
Dear Banjo Billy,
Seeing that so mabny banjos are made by i or 2 korean factories & badged to suit different distributors if one take an un biased look, one will find that the diff. is so small as not to justify the gigantic price diff. " Vintage " By J.H. Skewes, Boorinwood by www.boorinwoodmusic.com , Others by Stentor , Tanglewood, Westfield, Gremlin & other brands in the U.K are Korean made
It should be also remembered that many brands are kept artificialy high so as not to bring the brand int disrepute
High quality Hand Made banjo can be got from Tom Cussens in Clarinbridge( Galway ,Ireland ) under the CLAREEN badge viewable on the i. net
Boorinwood & Clareen are the only brand that I know have the proper string gauge ( not the " C " tunning )
irish tenor banjo's
irish tenor banjo's
hi everyone,i am going to upgrade my banjo in the new year and am open to suggestions about what to get.i am looking to spend around
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by banjo billy
Re: irish tenor banjo's
A guy I know has a Gold Tone tenor. It's on the smallish side and may be called a travel banjo or something like that. Nevertheless it's a fine banjo. He made it from a kit and I was really impressed with the sound of it. I have tried Gold Tone 5-strings and am generally impressed with them too for banjos in that price range. Their Whyte Laydie is a very nice banjo. I know nothing about Ozark.
Steve
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by SteveKendall
Re: irish tenor banjo's
cheers steve,the gold tone is probably a short scale tenor,as for the ozarks they are korean made and i think that they are only available in the uk,but in the usa the same banjo has the name morgan monroe on it.
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by banjo billy
Re: irish tenor banjo's
Just last month I got a Gold Tone IT 250, their "best quality" 17-fret tenor banjo. It's a decent instrument--easy to play, well set up, good tone, and well made. I bought it for its short scale length (easy to get around on with the left hand) and value for price (I paid about $550 US, without a resonator but including a hardshell case. I think the resonator adds another $90).
It's small enough to fit in phonebooth sessions, but projects well without being too loud. The neck is really a joy to play on, and the whole package looks good, too. Fiberskyn head, very clean chrome finish on all the metal parts, nice inlays, etc. I'm very happy with it. BTW, though the company is based in Florida, Gold Tones are made in Korea. Final assembly and set up are taken care of in the Florida shop. They seem to know what they're doing.
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: irish tenor banjo's
P.S. For just a little more money than your stated price range, you could get a Tom Cussen banjo (starting at around 1,000 Euro). See http://homepage.eircom.net/~tomcussen/
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: irish tenor banjo's
just checked out the tom cussen banjo's,they look great,as forr the gold tone it 250 over here i was quoted
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by banjo billy
Re: irish tenor banjo's
This has absolutely nothing to do with the thread, but seeing the name "Banjo Billy" caused me to remember something from my childhood. In Miami, Florida, during the early sixties, there was a local kids TV show called "Banjo Billy's Fun Boat". The stage was set up like an old river boat and Banjo Billy showed cartoons with a small, live, audience of children. Banjo Billy's nemisis was a puppet named "Al Alligator," who would appear behind Banjo Billy to the screams and great concern of the children in the audience. Whenever Banjo Billy turned around to see what all the kids were screaming and pointing about, Al Alligator would disappear every time.
The mom of one of my good friends surprised him by taking us all to Banjo Billy's Fun Boat to celebrate his birthday. The first time Al Alligator appeared we all screamed and pointed and Banjo Billy, doing his usual schtick, acted like he didn't know what we were concerned about. I jumped from the small seats, ran over to the ledge where the alligator had appeared and ripped the puppet off the man's hand on camera. I had to sit in the studio lobby for the rest of the show.
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Stevie C
Re: irish tenor banjo's
And so ended a bright career in alligator wrestling... LOL
Billy, you'd pay about double what my IT 250 cost, and most of that is no doubt shipping. Why not put the money into the instrument itself? If those Cussens sound half as good as they look, you'll be happy.
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: irish tenor banjo's
BB - Chris Smith (coyotebanjo) plays a Cussens instrument and should be able to give you some help. He's been to Tom's shop as well.
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Stevie C
Re: irish tenor banjo's
as i also intend to upgrade my tenor banjo, i visited Cussen's site. I would like a 17 fret banjo and i wonder why they are only open back (in his catalogue at least)?
Has anyone other adresses in Europe?
Paul
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by paul95
Re: irish tenor banjo's
I bought an excellent version of the gold tone put together by Andy Perkins in Faversham, he looks at this site so he might comment himself but essentially my understanding is that it has a gold tone banjitar rim with a tenor neck and tone ring fitted. This is much thicker than the standard rim and gives the banjo a great sound, thick and powerful with a solid plunk. Mine is an open back 17 fretter and as mentioned elsewhere on the list it is ideal if you travel as it can be easily taken on board the plane. Its volume belies its size however - this is a loud banjo!
I understand that he has been having a lot of success with these hybrids and some of the players that use them have performed vvery well at the All Ireland Championships. I am certainly very happy with mine.
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by nick b
Re: irish tenor banjo's
Eamonn Coyne plays a banjo made by David Boyle, Leixlip, Co Kildare, Ireland which is an excellent model. There's another good player in the pub who has one too but his name escapes me.
He doesn't seem t have a web site but his e-mail address is
david@inniu.org
I don't suppose they'll be that cheap, though.
John
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Johnny Jay
Re: irish tenor banjo's
I just received my Gold Tone IT 250 last night. As a guitar/flute player picking around on it for a few hours, I like it. I'm sure it will take a few months of playing and learning banjo details before I can really tell how good it is but so far so good.
I paid $538 for it with a nice hardshell case from http://banjostore.com/. However, as mentioned above, I wouldn't pay &163; 645 for it. I would either look for another supplier or find a model available in Eurpoe and save on shipping.
Eddie
(Hmm, no post preview, I tried to entry 645 pounds sterling above in case it doesn't display properly).
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by beowulf573
Re: irish tenor banjo's
John J, a good friend of mine, Kevin"Foxy" Finucane plays a Boyle banjo. They are great instruments; Foxy owns the first one that David made. He showed me a pic of Kieran Hanrahan playing one on a CD cover, so your supposition is right - they are not cheap instruments!
Con
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by Conán McDonnell
Re: irish tenor banjo's
thank's for all the reply's,i am probably going to get one of tom cussen's banjos now,for the sake of an extra couple of huedred pounds i think it would be better than a korean made banjo.
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by banjo billy
Re: irish tenor banjo's
Dear Billy,
Why not look at www.boorinwoodmusic.com.
BT75T Chrome with heavy tone ring ( made in Korea ) comes with a complimentary set of proper eadg tunning strings instead of
" C " tuning ones fitted
J.B
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by boorinwood
Re: irish tenor banjo's
i have just read on another forum that the tom cussens banjo's or clareen are made from kits,apparently the same kits as dave boyle's banjo's are made from???
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by banjo billy
Re: irish tenor banjo's
Um...my Gold Tone came with GDAE strings on it. It was even in tune when I opened the case directly after shipping.
?
Billy, banjos from pre-fabbed parts doesn't mean they won't be high quality. Most makers find it more efficient and cheaper to buy parts than make them themselves. Why reinvent the wheel (or the rim, as the case may be
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: irish tenor banjo's
i understand what you are saying,but i was only stating what was written on another forum,they were someone elses words not mine.....i don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing,i am open to other peoples opinions.
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by banjo billy
Re: irish tenor banjo's
"i have just read on another forum that the tom cussens banjo's or clareen are made from kits,apparently"
Misleading. Tom farms out some of his work (I think maybe neck blanks, some other stuff?) but much of his work is done in-house--I've seen it going together in his shop.
Listen to players who use the instruments you're interested in, until you find someone who makes you go "THAT's the sound I want to make." A much better criterion.
chris smith
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by coyotebanjo
Re: irish tenor banjo's
...and then cough up 2000-3000 Euro for some top-of-the-line banjo only to find you still don't sound as good as so-and-so. (Sorry Chris, just couldn't resist.
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: irish tenor banjo's
Hey banjo billy,
Just for variety's sake, I'll throw a different wrench/spanner into the mix. 500-600 quid translates into the $1500 (Canadian) range and for that kind of money one can purchase a vintage tenor banjo in excellent condition. One of the local shops often has good tenors in stock that are beautiful to behold as well as play. Old Gibson, Vega, Paramount, Bacon & Day etc. banjos can be had for that money. An excellent local player here has an open back Vega tubafone short neck tenor and it has the warmest sound imaginable.
Oh, and as Will says above - any good banjo is delivered in tune. Mine's been in tune since the day I got it.
Greg
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by octogreg
Re: irish tenor banjo's
I've got an IT-250 and it looks and feels great, but I get a very "flabby" sound on the G string (GDAE). What strings (gauges and brands) do people use, especially with a Gold Tone IT-250 (others' scale lengths may dictate different strings)?
Thanks!
--- John
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by vulcan666
Re: irish tenor banjo's
don't know if anyone will still be looking at this thread but, for what it's worth, the gold tone component built banjos are excellent value for money. personally, i'm not that impressed by the IT-250 (though it's a lovely little neck, dimensions based on my 1917 tubaphone neck) - it works much better with thicker rims and heavier tone rings. they are also much cheaper than indicated on this thread - the basic IT250 is around
# Posted on December 13th 2003 by teetotaller
Re: irish tenor banjo's
don't know if anyone will still be looking at this thread but, for what it's worth, the gold tone component built banjos are excellent value for money. personally, i'm not that impressed by the IT-250 (though it's a lovely little neck, dimensions based on my 1917 tubaphone neck) - it works much better with thicker rims and heavier tone rings. they are also much cheaper than indicated on this thread - the basic IT250 is around
# Posted on December 13th 2003 by teetotaller
Re: irish tenor banjo's
Tom cussen or dave boyle are you men. I've bought a pearl model banjo off tom and it cost me 1400 euro. I've been to his shop a few times and he's the kindest man you'd ever meet. He has a lot of other banjos up there for cheap prices. You'd get a brand new special model banjo off him for around 800 euro. Great sound off of them and the action is good too.
# Posted on December 14th 2003 by banjaxbanjo
Re: irish tenor banjo's
Dear .....,
Re the not so nice unfounded remaks re T.C. banjos, I think it would be terrific if people would made a reasonable attempt to check their facts before stating as fact their wishful thinking.
I do understand some begrudge anyone a reputation that they cannot achieve themselves.
I was a sales rep for many years calling on music shops incl. the said T.C. There was very many banjos of different qualities ( price brackets ) under construction. stacks of necks some finished , others being inlaid, others only just glued " bits of timber "
Tone rings, holding down rims , heads & screws ( metal parts )are bought from outside ok. It would be better for those trying to slander / lower his standing go there & see for themselves . He even makes the resonators. One can see them under construction beside the lathes or on it .
J.B
# Posted on December 16th 2003 by boorinwood
Re: irish tenor banjo's
Dear J.B.,
I think that you have expertly exposed the ridiculous comments made about T.C. banjos. He was recommended to me by a highly regarded player and if the banjos were not top quality I'm sure they would not have been recommeded. Thanks for you comments.
As an aside, I have tried several times to contact Boorinwood by email about your TB strings but have not received any reply. I would definitely like to try them. Perhaps, the emails did not go through?
Rick
# Posted on December 19th 2003 by lhrrick
Re: irish tenor banjo's
I have tried most makes of both vintage USA and modern European and USA tenors. Many vintage tenors are excellent, and USA based players should have no trouble getting a good vintage instrument at a good price (e.g. Vega, Weymann, Bacon & Day - forget Gibson, great but too expensive). The sticking point may be scale length, as shorter scales are harder to find. There are several good current makes in the UK, including the best I have recently heard/ handled - the Erin model sold by Eagle Music - an extremely well made Gibson clone. Try Steve Noon, at , if you want more details of the Erin.
Kevin
# Posted on December 29th 2003 by straysider
Re: irish tenor banjo's
Dear Banjo Billy,
Seeing that so mabny banjos are made by i or 2 korean factories & badged to suit different distributors if one take an un biased look, one will find that the diff. is so small as not to justify the gigantic price diff. " Vintage " By J.H. Skewes, Boorinwood by www.boorinwoodmusic.com , Others by Stentor , Tanglewood, Westfield, Gremlin & other brands in the U.K are Korean made
It should be also remembered that many brands are kept artificialy high so as not to bring the brand int disrepute
High quality Hand Made banjo can be got from Tom Cussens in Clarinbridge( Galway ,Ireland ) under the CLAREEN badge viewable on the i. net
Boorinwood & Clareen are the only brand that I know have the proper string gauge ( not the " C " tunning )
H. N. Year to every one
J.B
# Posted on December 30th 2003 by boorinwood
Re: irish tenor banjo's
Dear Riki,
Try john.oneill17@ntlworld.com
Apologies
J.B
# Posted on December 30th 2003 by boorinwood