Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
I'm thinking about trading up (or over) from my junky, old Kay tenor banjo (19-fret) to a new Gold Tone CC 17-fret Irish-tenor. Yea, I know they're cheap (~$340 USD w/o case), but are they at all worthwile to own and play?
Keep in mind that I'm not much of a banjo player and a $2000 instrument would be a complete waste for me to own (and it would put a damper on my lavish lifestyle)... that is, right now throwing a ton money at a professional-class banjo wouldn't make my woodshed banjo playing that much more bearable.
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
Schy, like you, my playing couldn't justify an expensive banjo, so I bought a Gold Tone Irish Tenor 250, the step up from the Cripple Creek, and I think the extra $$ was worth it. I saved a little by leaving off the resonator (it's plenty loud without it), and am very satisfied with this banjo's tone, playability, and looks. I played a Cripple Creek model once--the IT-250 is definitely a big step up--nicer neck, better tone, better intonation, even the factory set up is dialed in. Mine came with a fyberskin head, which may or may not be standard. I've seen one IT-250 in a store with a plain mylar head and the tone was thin and, well, plasticky.
and scroll to the bottom. There's a link to a video of John Carty playing a borrowed CC Irish tenor. That's what it'll sound like if you play like John Carty!
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
grego...
Yea... my banjo playing is a lot like that (but without all that speed, accuracy, and rhythm).
I think I was at that workshop (mando/banjo) when the video was recorded. The room and the girl look familiar. I wasn't in the market for a banjo upgrade at the time (being focused on mandolins), so I didn't pay too much attention to the types of banjos around me.
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
I wouldn't know, but I think that if you want a banjo you should get a Deering Goodtime tenor. They're about the same price as the old banjo, but they're handmade and nice quality. Or so my dad says. I know squat about banjos.
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
I play a CC-IT. I think it's OK at best, even for the price. I replaced the head with a Fibreskin head, which improved the sound.
I've had several problems with the mechanicals of the banjo. The threaded inserts in the resonator that are the attachment points came loose; I had to superglue them in to be able to use the resonator.
The hooks for the banjo can't take a lot of pressure and they can't be replaced with better ones because the ring that holds the head on the banjo isn't grooved. If you want to get a tight head be prepared to lose a hook or two. They bend right off the banjo. This means I can't get my banjo head tight enough.
Also, the bridge they supply and the nut aren't big enough for GDAE strings (I'm using heavy strings, .11, .24, .32, .44). The .44 G string pops out of the bridge constantly, so I had to replace the bridge. The .24 A string sticks in the but so tuning is a pain. I used graphite on the nut which helped a little.
So would I recommend it? After writing all this, it's still fun to play, but I think pretty poorly made. It seems like you could do better for the price, or for a little bit more money.
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
The GT CCIT banjo that John Carty is playing in that clip belongs to my friend Crystal Bailey, who lives here in Bloomington, Indiana. Crystal was classically trained on piano as a child, and later, in the folk music and clog dancing of her native Arkansas. She plays guitar, mandolin and fiddle as well.
I located this CCIT for her at a closeout of that model at a New England online music store some years back. When it arrived I had two very experienced local banjo techs go over it and the most modification they could find was to move the bridge a tad to perfect the intonation.
Crystal spent about a year in Nova Scotia and the Cape Breton areas of Canada, and the CCIT performed flawlessly thru the Canadian winter. She is a gentle player with small hands and the CCIT helps to bring her out to be heard well in big Irish sessions.
A number of fine players have complimented her on this instrument, including John Carty (Mike didn't -make- him play that one, there were others in the room, including Carty's own!) and Crystal has been happy with it since day one of playing it.
All seem to agree that it's a terrific value for the price.
Along with the IT-250, there aren't many better (if any) instruments this good at these prices. I looked really hard.
I didn't want to do -all- the research it would take to learn about the vintage models that can be had at near the cost of the Gold Tones, and even knowing, buying online (as I did with the CCIT) would have been more risky than with a new, lower-cost instrument.
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
The Gold Tones are definitely decent instruments. I have a GT mando-banjo that I'm happy with, and I wouldn't feel that way about most mando-banjos. The GT Irish tenor instruments that I've tried have been good too.
However, as Stv alludes, you can also find quality vintage instruments (Vega, Weymann, Bacon, Ludwig, and even Gibson) within the same price ballpark (e.g., $300-$600 or even cheaper). I am partial to the early 20's Vega tenors. Of course, an old instrument is more likely to need some setup work, but it will also have a higher resale value if you feel the need to upgrade again.
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
I have a loud tinny 1920's Ludwig thats collecting dust, who wants to buy it?
I rarely play banjo now, but if I do, its usually my "Vintage" factory job. I take off the resonator on all bajnos i play. I loosen the skin, and use wound strings on the G D and A.
On my cheapo, I tune it down and capo the second fret so its like a 17 fretter. The strings are sloppy and loose...This also ensures I get the old, dirty, Johnny Keenan sound rather then the tinny loudness that others get, that I dont like.
How does that sound to banjo enthusiasts??Its a strange looking yoke, but I've had many surprised reactions on the sweetness of it, and the sublety at which i can get notes and phrases in on it.I get the exact banjo sound I want out of this instrument, and it suits my style of playing.It holds the tuning well, and triplets are simple - I'm not a loud player and I don't play with loud players, so when there are a few other melody insturments it sounds just as I want it.
So its not all about price - my Ludwig cost me 1000, my Vintage cost me 500....its how comfortable you are with the instrument, how you adapt it to yourself, and how often you practice!get a cheapo and experiment - thats what I say!
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
If you decide to buy the CCIT, try and play a few of them. I have found several that I was impressed with and with a little setup they sound fine. The one that John Carty plays on that clip is a good banjo and it doesn't hurt to have John play it. (By the way, Crystal Bailey is a wonderful musician herself and was complimented on her playing by JC.)
I found that I do not like the tailpiece on the CCIT and that the tuners are marginal at best. You may have to change them out if they don't work well for you. But that is not always the case, it seems to depend on the lot of tuners and bridges that Gold Tone gets. Gold Tone makes a decent banjo for the price.
If you decide to go the vintage route, get a 17 fret banjo, preferably a Vega, a Weymann, or a Bacon as these banjos are well made, even on the entry level, and less prone to damage over the years possibly because the owners know that these three banjos (and any entry level Lange banjo) are good ones. The 17 fret neck is less prone to warping in these marques too.
I've had good luck early on in ebay with these brand names, but if you want to go the vintage route it is better to see one in person or pay a little more and get one from a reputable dealer like Vinnie Mondello (www.4stringbanjos.com) who will give a warrentee with the banjo and won't be satisfied with the sale unless you are.
Ludwig is not a bad brand either but have a distinctive sound that some don't like. Setup is very important to the sound too so getting a banjo is not as easy as it seems <G>
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
Having wanted to play a tenor banjo for years, primarily for Irish music, I ordered a Gold Tone tenor with 19-fret neck and resonator; pictures I'd seen of Barney McKenna and Gerry O'Connor and others showed long necks, so I didn't see a reason to get the 17-fret. I'm very pleased with the sound, action, and so forth. Not having played a banjo before, I gather that there might be a certain clarity in the higher notes if I'd gotten the archtop model, but I didn't have that much money. Any banjo seems a good way to add more happiness to the world, and my Gold Tone is doing its job-----danlm
Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
I'm thinking about trading up (or over) from my junky, old Kay tenor banjo (19-fret) to a new Gold Tone CC 17-fret Irish-tenor. Yea, I know they're cheap (~$340 USD w/o case), but are they at all worthwile to own and play?
Keep in mind that I'm not much of a banjo player and a $2000 instrument would be a complete waste for me to own (and it would put a damper on my lavish lifestyle)... that is, right now throwing a ton money at a professional-class banjo wouldn't make my woodshed banjo playing that much more bearable.
So... Would you bother to own/play one?
Thanks!
Schy
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by Schy
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
Schy, like you, my playing couldn't justify an expensive banjo, so I bought a Gold Tone Irish Tenor 250, the step up from the Cripple Creek, and I think the extra $$ was worth it. I saved a little by leaving off the resonator (it's plenty loud without it), and am very satisfied with this banjo's tone, playability, and looks. I played a Cripple Creek model once--the IT-250 is definitely a big step up--nicer neck, better tone, better intonation, even the factory set up is dialed in. Mine came with a fyberskin head, which may or may not be standard. I've seen one IT-250 in a store with a plain mylar head and the tone was thin and, well, plasticky.
My $0.02.
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by Will CPT
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
Go to Mike Keyes' latest article:
http://www.banjosessions.com/aug05/righthand.html
and scroll to the bottom. There's a link to a video of John Carty playing a borrowed CC Irish tenor. That's what it'll sound like if you play like John Carty!
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by grego
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
grego...
Yea... my banjo playing is a lot like that (but without all that speed, accuracy, and rhythm).
I think I was at that workshop (mando/banjo) when the video was recorded. The room and the girl look familiar. I wasn't in the market for a banjo upgrade at the time (being focused on mandolins), so I didn't pay too much attention to the types of banjos around me.
Schy
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by Schy
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
I wouldn't know, but I think that if you want a banjo you should get a Deering Goodtime tenor. They're about the same price as the old banjo, but they're handmade and nice quality. Or so my dad says. I know squat about banjos.
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by Zazzaliss
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
I play a CC-IT. I think it's OK at best, even for the price. I replaced the head with a Fibreskin head, which improved the sound.
I've had several problems with the mechanicals of the banjo. The threaded inserts in the resonator that are the attachment points came loose; I had to superglue them in to be able to use the resonator.
The hooks for the banjo can't take a lot of pressure and they can't be replaced with better ones because the ring that holds the head on the banjo isn't grooved. If you want to get a tight head be prepared to lose a hook or two. They bend right off the banjo. This means I can't get my banjo head tight enough.
Also, the bridge they supply and the nut aren't big enough for GDAE strings (I'm using heavy strings, .11, .24, .32, .44). The .44 G string pops out of the bridge constantly, so I had to replace the bridge. The .24 A string sticks in the but so tuning is a pain. I used graphite on the nut which helped a little.
So would I recommend it? After writing all this, it's still fun to play, but I think pretty poorly made. It seems like you could do better for the price, or for a little bit more money.
-Dirtyheel
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by dirtyheel
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
The GT CCIT banjo that John Carty is playing in that clip belongs to my friend Crystal Bailey, who lives here in Bloomington, Indiana. Crystal was classically trained on piano as a child, and later, in the folk music and clog dancing of her native Arkansas. She plays guitar, mandolin and fiddle as well.
I located this CCIT for her at a closeout of that model at a New England online music store some years back. When it arrived I had two very experienced local banjo techs go over it and the most modification they could find was to move the bridge a tad to perfect the intonation.
Crystal spent about a year in Nova Scotia and the Cape Breton areas of Canada, and the CCIT performed flawlessly thru the Canadian winter. She is a gentle player with small hands and the CCIT helps to bring her out to be heard well in big Irish sessions.
A number of fine players have complimented her on this instrument, including John Carty (Mike didn't -make- him play that one, there were others in the room, including Carty's own!) and Crystal has been happy with it since day one of playing it.
All seem to agree that it's a terrific value for the price.
Along with the IT-250, there aren't many better (if any) instruments this good at these prices. I looked really hard.
I didn't want to do -all- the research it would take to learn about the vintage models that can be had at near the cost of the Gold Tones, and even knowing, buying online (as I did with the CCIT) would have been more risky than with a new, lower-cost instrument.
All the best,
stv
http://cdbaby.com/Culchies
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by stv culchie
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
The Gold Tones are definitely decent instruments. I have a GT mando-banjo that I'm happy with, and I wouldn't feel that way about most mando-banjos. The GT Irish tenor instruments that I've tried have been good too.
However, as Stv alludes, you can also find quality vintage instruments (Vega, Weymann, Bacon, Ludwig, and even Gibson) within the same price ballpark (e.g., $300-$600 or even cheaper). I am partial to the early 20's Vega tenors. Of course, an old instrument is more likely to need some setup work, but it will also have a higher resale value if you feel the need to upgrade again.
# Posted on August 30th 2005 by tedium
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
I have a loud tinny 1920's Ludwig thats collecting dust, who wants to buy it?
I rarely play banjo now, but if I do, its usually my "Vintage" factory job. I take off the resonator on all bajnos i play. I loosen the skin, and use wound strings on the G D and A.
On my cheapo, I tune it down and capo the second fret so its like a 17 fretter. The strings are sloppy and loose...This also ensures I get the old, dirty, Johnny Keenan sound rather then the tinny loudness that others get, that I dont like.
How does that sound to banjo enthusiasts??Its a strange looking yoke, but I've had many surprised reactions on the sweetness of it, and the sublety at which i can get notes and phrases in on it.I get the exact banjo sound I want out of this instrument, and it suits my style of playing.It holds the tuning well, and triplets are simple - I'm not a loud player and I don't play with loud players, so when there are a few other melody insturments it sounds just as I want it.
So its not all about price - my Ludwig cost me 1000, my Vintage cost me 500....its how comfortable you are with the instrument, how you adapt it to yourself, and how often you practice!get a cheapo and experiment - thats what I say!
# Posted on August 30th 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
Or buy my Ludwig off me.......please?
# Posted on August 30th 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
If you decide to buy the CCIT, try and play a few of them. I have found several that I was impressed with and with a little setup they sound fine. The one that John Carty plays on that clip is a good banjo and it doesn't hurt to have John play it. (By the way, Crystal Bailey is a wonderful musician herself and was complimented on her playing by JC.)
I found that I do not like the tailpiece on the CCIT and that the tuners are marginal at best. You may have to change them out if they don't work well for you. But that is not always the case, it seems to depend on the lot of tuners and bridges that Gold Tone gets. Gold Tone makes a decent banjo for the price.
If you decide to go the vintage route, get a 17 fret banjo, preferably a Vega, a Weymann, or a Bacon as these banjos are well made, even on the entry level, and less prone to damage over the years possibly because the owners know that these three banjos (and any entry level Lange banjo) are good ones. The 17 fret neck is less prone to warping in these marques too.
I've had good luck early on in ebay with these brand names, but if you want to go the vintage route it is better to see one in person or pay a little more and get one from a reputable dealer like Vinnie Mondello (www.4stringbanjos.com) who will give a warrentee with the banjo and won't be satisfied with the sale unless you are.
Ludwig is not a bad brand either but have a distinctive sound that some don't like. Setup is very important to the sound too so getting a banjo is not as easy as it seems <G>
# Posted on August 30th 2005 by mikeyes
Re: Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo Experiences
Having wanted to play a tenor banjo for years, primarily for Irish music, I ordered a Gold Tone tenor with 19-fret neck and resonator; pictures I'd seen of Barney McKenna and Gerry O'Connor and others showed long necks, so I didn't see a reason to get the 17-fret. I'm very pleased with the sound, action, and so forth. Not having played a banjo before, I gather that there might be a certain clarity in the higher notes if I'd gotten the archtop model, but I didn't have that much money. Any banjo seems a good way to add more happiness to the world, and my Gold Tone is doing its job-----danlm
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by danlm