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Pros:
- Great tonewood
- Well crafted
- Volume and sound
- Sturdy and comfortable
Cons:
- Pricey (especially for beginners)
- A little bit heavy
Buying a new, or even first, the instrument is a big decision and it gets bigger if you pay a lot of money for it. While there are thousands of cheap banjos, ukuleles, and banjoleles that offer nice construction, they rarely achieve the same heights as the more expensive, high-end models. The Gold Tone Banjolele-DLX Banjo Ukulele Deluxe costs of $500 and while this might put off a lot of people, especially beginners, who have no experience with banjo ukes, there are a lot of factors to think about before you dismiss it. First of all, this is a well-constructed instrument with quality tonewood. Gold-Tone did not skimp on hardware either so what you get in the end is an instrument that looks, feels and sounds amazing.
Build
This concert-size banjolele with 10″ maple resonator and one-piece cast flange produced an amazing sound that is pushed forward. With a total weight of 5 lbs this banjolele might seem too heavy but, fortunately, there is also armrest which should make things easier. On top of that, the slick maple neck on this deluxe banjolele adds to the overall playability and looks amazing. The neck also has an ebony fingerboard with snowflake inlays that adds to overall playability and comfort. The white ABS binding along with 8” rim and tone ring adds so much more to the overall volume of this instrument. A beautiful instrument that feels and sounds like you have just reconnected with a long-lost friend.
Hardware
When it comes to hardware Gold Tone equipped this concert banjolele with maple bridge and ebony cap. Apart from that, on the headstock, you will see Grover-style tuners. These tuners are a step up from the friction pegs and provide better and longer-lasting tuning. While the hardware is functional it also adds to the overall aesthetic and makes it look more vintage. And of course, you cannot ruin this beauty with a too thick finish. So Gold Tone used the vintage brown gloss that allows for the tonewood to breathe and age well while also helping this banjo uke vibrate.
Gold Tone Banjolele Sound
It is not a secret to anyone that the sound of the instrument is usually determined by the quality of craftsmanship and materials used. So if you read the first two sections of this review you can pretty much deduce the quality of the sound. With sweet sound and amazing projection, this banjolele is amazing for any kind of performance, be it in a group or solo. The combination of sweet ukulele tone with more spunky banjo sound definitely was a great decision. Apart from that, the resonator with an open-piece flange lets the instrument achieve forward shifted sound and amazing volume.
Conclusion
Gold-Tone Banjolele-DLX is definitely a deluxe instrument. With quality tonewood, exquisite construction and mesmerizing sound that blends ukulele and banjo to perfection you will be getting a top-notch banjolele. While the price of this instrument is definitely not comparable to a lot of beginner/entry level instrument, this is a more beginner to an intermediate instrument. With long lasting, ever improving tonewood and sound you will surely be using this banjo uke for years to come.
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