NUD: Gold Tone BUC Concert Banjolele

SoCal

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So I got this banjolele like a week ago and am loving it. I'd post a picture, but it's a well-known banjolele, so I'll just post the link. https://goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldtone/instruments/buc

My reason to post a review is that I have seen this banjolele in stores, and sometimes it did not sound good in the store. Still, I wanted to give it a try because it looks well made. I'm glad I did. What I found is that when you get this banjolele home and take the time to properly tune the head, properly position the bridge and tune it up with quality strings (I used D'Addario Nyltech with a LaBella low G), it sounds fantastic. And it feels great to play.

I bought mine for $369 at Island Bazaar in Orange County. It comes with a nice hard case. Maybe there are cheaper deals out there, but Island Bazaar is a nice uke store, and why not support a local vendor.

Here's what's really nice. The neck feels good and solid, and it's 15 5/8", which is longer than typical concert scales, so your hands feel like they have a tad bit more room for chords. The satin finish on the neck feels good, too.

The Remo head on the BUC has great tone -- much better than most non-branded heads that I've heard. It takes some time to line up the bridge, but I tested it with a tuner at open and 12th frets, and found that with a slight angle (like Martin guitar bridges), it tunes up nicely.

Adjustments are easy. For example, I was able to lower the action by adjusting the rod inside the pot.

The hardware seems like it's good quality.

The shell has a well-cut edge so that the banjolele head tunes easily and evenly.

This banjolele has 16 brackets (most seem to have 12 or 8), so you can tune the head at a high tension, and it will stay in tune. Also, with the high tension, the Low G string thins out a bit, which makes it so that it does not sound muddy. Rather, it sounds dry, which I like.

All in all, I think the BUC is a great buy for the money. I'm quite pleased.
 
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Joyce, who plays in a band that I am in has that exact instrument. She has had it for at least 3 years and I am always impressed with the sound when she uses it in the songs we perform.

As you say they are really well made and when properly set up they sound and play great. Congratulations on your new instrument and thank you for supporting a local music store. I try to do that whenever I can.
 
I ordered one of these today from Mim - so I know it'll have a great set-up. I'm planning to play Fred Sokolow's Ragtime pieces and some clawhammer on it.
For anyone who likes banjo, check out Rhiannon Giddens.
 
That's the exact same uke I have.
I Love it, but it's in the luthier shop getting that big heavy neck honed down, and an armrest made.
It would be fun to have planetary tuners put on, but right now, that's a luxury.
 
That's the exact same uke I have.
I Love it, but it's in the luthier shop getting that big heavy neck honed down, and an armrest made.
It would be fun to have planetary tuners put on, but right now, that's a luxury.

Funny thing. I actually like the chunky neck, but I know that's a personal preference. I bought the Gold Tone arm rest, which sat a bit high, but I bent it a bit and got it to sit flush to the rim, which I prefer. It's nice to hear about how you're customizing your banjolele. That's fun.
 
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