Aloha Alan,
Thanks for the review, the mainland has a more tinny banjo sound of old and a little louder, as for the Gold tone a more refined mellower tone.
Between the two, as you said for portability and price the Mainland wins...for the Goldtone, at home for a quality sound, you get
what you pay for....more of a ukulele sound...two competely different sounds, If you got UAS..get both.....he he