Gold Tone OB-150 Orange Blossom

I like Gold Tone, the fact that this actually a Chinese made banjo does not detract in any way from the pleasure of owning and playing a quality instrument. I`m lucky to own a number of banjos, all professional performance level, including Deering, and the OB 150 is a clear favourite for sound quality, clarity of note on all strings, adequate volume without being overpowering, easy playing( I have big fingers) hand slides easily up & down the neck with no drag, and that isn`t always the case even if you spend double the cost of this instrument.

Maybe OK as a starter instrument, but I wouldn't recommend it. Badly made and poorly finished, it doesn't live up to reviews. For example, resonator studs incorrectly fitted, so resonator bolts loose and unaligned. Neck/Pot joint machine cut and badly fitted with large gap. And it just feels and sounds 'tinny' - not the quality sound I was expecting from Gold Tone. I doubt whether changing the strings would make much difference, but as I had decided to return it, it still has the factory strings.