2010s Gold Tone "Whyte Laydie" 5-String Openback Banjo

Overview: This is built very close to Gold Tone's current WL-250 model but it's not as fancy. It has a Mastertone-style neck but with no frailing scoop and a plain-Jane, non-bound, multi-ply rim. It does have the Whyte Laydie tonering, though. My friend Rob bought this and he suspects it's a "partscaster" assembled from Gold Tone parts. That's entirely possible as one can order whatever parts are desired from Gold Tone and then fit them together as needed. It doesn't have any labeling inside so that lends credence to this theory. In any case, it's a Gold Tone instrument and all of the parts are Gold Tone in origin. It's like a no-frills version of the WL-250 in terms of how it handles, though it sounds the same as the WL-250s I have played.

Tone: It's got that Whyte Laydie thing -- poppy, clean, direct, and with a nice, lingering sustain that doesn't have a ton of weird overtones. It's a great sound for old-time.

Feel: The neck is slim and fast and it handles a lot like a '70s Gibson RB neck.

Interesting features: Aside from its origins, there's not much to write home about here that I haven't already noted before. The cloud inlays are nice, of course, and it's built to a good spec. Someone already fit railroad spikes to it for the 5th string.

Repairs included: I'd set it up before and compensated the bridge but Jose did it one better by leveling and dressing the frets this time around, too. It's playing spot-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 7 lbs 9 oz
• Scale length: 26 3/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/4"
• Neck shape: medium C
• Board radius: flat
• Head diameter: 11”
• Depth overall at rim: 2 7/8"
• Rim wood: multi-ply maple
• Tonering: Whyte Laydie
• Bridge: maple/ebony compensated
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 9s (lights)
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-full

Condition notes: It's pretty clean and, aside from some wear on the head, only shows mild usewear throughout, if any. It was obviously played for a bit but it wasn't abused or neglected.

It comes with: It has a nice hard case.

Consignor tag: RGR