2022 Gold Tone OT-800LN Longneck 5-String Banjo

Yep, this is Gold Tone's "Vega Pete Seeger" model for the masses. It has spiffy appointments, a quality build, lighter-weight maple rim, and a traditional Tubaphone-style tonering and Vega-style bracket band. It's easy on the eyes, too.

The owner of this moved over to an actual, vintage, '60s Pete Seeger model and so that's why this one's here for resale. They're very similar banjos, to be honest, though the vintage Vega is a little drier-sounding and poppier with a distinctive, clucky bite while the Gold Tone is a little sweeter-sounding and rounder in tone -- a sound that will ease modern ears. Both are good and both are different.

This was almost playing spot-on when it arrived which is probably why it was loved so much -- the head has a ton of wear from much faithful playtime despite its only being a couple years old. It only needed minor setup adjustments and the Gibson-style, dual-coordinator-rod setup makes that easy-peasy. It's now playing bang-on and ready to serve.

Repairs included: a quick setup.

• Weight: 8 lbs 2 oz
• Scale length: 31 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/16"
• Neck shape: medium C
• Board radius: flat
• Head diameter: 11”
• Depth overall at rim: 3 3/8"
• Rim wood: multi-ply maple
• Tonering: Tubaphone-style
• Bridge: compensated maple/ebony
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: maple (dark stain, I think)
• Action height at 12th fret: hair over 1/16" (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 9s
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium

Condition notes: while the instrument is overall quite clean, it does have wear and tear to the head from clawhammer-style playing. It has a few railroad spike capos installed, too -- at "3, 5, and 7" of the 5th string's part of the board. There may be other light usewear in evidence but I'm not noticing it.

It comes with: an original hard case.

Consignor tag: JM