2019 Gold Tone BU-1 Concert Banjo Ukulele
At $220 new with a pickup installed and a gigbag, it's hard to fight with the value in one of these new Gold Tone jo-ukes. It's vaguely '20s Gibson-looking, features guitar-style tuners (easy to use), a synthetic (FiberSkyn) head, nice downpressure tailpiece, tall bridge, coordinator-rod setup, a bound fretboard, and decent factory setup.
This one's been loved for a bit but, aside from some wear to the head, is quite clean. I've got to say I like everything about it except the pickup, which feeds back nastily (and easily) and sounds thin and yick. I'd swap it out for a $35 or so K&K single-spot pickup in a heartbeat. Heck, the jack hole is already drilled so it's drag-and-drop easy to do so.
I just had to give it a restring and light setup to get it at its best.
Repairs included: minor setup.
Rim wood: presumably mahogany ply
Tonering: simple hoop
Bridge: maple/ebony
Fretboard: rosewood
Neck wood: mahogany
Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" (fast)
String gauges: D'Addario fluorocarbon
Neck shape: medium C
Board radius: flat
Neck relief: straight
Fret style: medium-narrower
Scale length: 15 1/2"
Nut width: 1 3/8"
Head diameter: 8"
Depth overall at rim: 2 1/2"
Weight: 2 lbs 2 oz
Condition notes: it's essentially as-new save some mild wear to the head and perhaps a tiny scuff or scratch here or there.
It comes with: its original gigbag.
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