Ross— I have held off writing to you for far too long. A bit over a year ago I ordered a Gold Tone OT-800 open back banjo from you. I specced a zero glide nut and a renaissance head and spikes at 7 and 9. Delivery took a while as there were none in the US at the time. It was well worth the wait.
The OT-800 has been a real pleasure, especially in this pandemic time. It was brighter and brassier than I expected and I put on a Fiberskyn head and stuffed a couple of socks in the chamber to tone it down a bit. This was my first encounter with the Tubaphone sound and, well, I should have researched what sound the Tubaphone was aiming for. My mistake.
I own several banjos: a Gibson RB-250, a Deering Calico and a Pisgah Dobson Rambler in addition to the Gold Tone. Each of them has its own special qualities, but only the Gold Tone does pretty well with both clawhammer and finger picking. When I travel, it is the one I will carry along. It is a versatile instrument.
The banjo setup, as it arrived from you was perfect. I changed the head, but that was a matter of taste, and you did send the head I specced. Everything else was perfect. I thank you for your good service and attention to detail. The banjo build is excellent—even flawless. No bubbles in the chrome, beautiful inlays, good tuners, wood finish, binding and all that. Intonation right on. This is a good instrument.
There is an attitude out there that foreign, “mass produced” instruments are inherently inferior. At least in the case of my Gold Tone OT-800 this is not true at all. This is a fine banjo and I am glad I have it. Kelly Puckett

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