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Topic: Tried the Gold Tone steel today |
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 1 Jun 2002 6:10 pm |
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I was at Elderly Instruments this afternoon and tried the new Gold Tone steel. The Elderly website states that they are still awaiting shipment, but there it was, hanging on the wall with a $280 price tag on it.
I only got a chance to try it for a few minutes, there were a bunch of rockers in the amp room jamming away and I could only squeeze in a few chords/notes.
My intial gut feeling was that this was an excellent steel for the price. It is a very solid instrument and not at all "cheap" feeling or looking. Fit and finish are above average, actually quite nice. The guitar was tuned to an open E (acoustic guitar gauge strings). The tone was reminiscent of Supro guitars. Very lively with much punch. Maybe because of open E, but I felt that this guitar would be great for blues/David Lindley style... but who knows, maybe if it had a C6 gauge set it would be a wonderful Hawaiian steel. In the right hands I'm sure you could get any tone you'd want out of this instrument.
All in all I'd say that this is the best electric six string steel available on the market today in this price range.
I am not affiliated at all with Elderly instruments, although I'm sure that with all the money I've spent there over the years... I have greatly helped with their electric bills, gas bills and weekly payroll. 
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 01 June 2002 at 07:12 PM.] [This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 02 June 2002 at 03:35 PM.] |
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Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
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Posted 2 Jun 2002 12:05 pm
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Hello Gerald,
You mean to tell me Elderly only has one amp room. Maybe they should have a sign-up sheet so lap steel players can have equal time.??
Thanks for the good words about the Goldtone Lap Steel.
Roger |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
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Posted 2 Jun 2002 4:34 pm
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Elderly also offers a very nice looking case for the guitar. It costs $85.00, but a person would need to hand carry it when traveling. You wouldn't want those airport gorillas to toss it around in baggage handling.
Roger |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 3 Jun 2002 2:24 am
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| What's the scale length of the Gold Tone? |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 3 Jun 2002 7:33 pm
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Andy,
The scale length is 26", which accounts for the Gold Tone's great sustain and tone. The solid hardwood body has a lot to do with that too. It's not great for bar slants, but it rings like a piano... and that's before it's plugged into the amp!
If you ever get out to western Mass. stop into Downtown Sounds and take the Gold Tone for a test ride. It sounds great through any of the Fender tube amps. The store is very casual and low-pressure. We encourage people to come in and play the instruments. It's not one of those music stores with commission-driven sales guys who follow you around and nag you! God, I hate that!
Mass Pike Exit 4, I-91 North to exit 18, left onto Rt 5, go about 1 mile into center of town, Downtown Sounds is on the left. We also carry Carter Starters, Goodrich, Dunlop... etc, etc...
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My Site | Doug's Free Tab
[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 03 June 2002 at 08:40 PM.] |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 3 Jun 2002 8:23 pm
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A word about the Gold Tone fret markers...
I've noticed some complaints here about the fret markers being "non-standard", but the markers on the Gold Tone are on the same frets as 99% of the other guitars and steel guitars out there: frets 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19 plus there is one on fret 2. That additional marker on fret 2 doesn't bother me at all.
There are more double dot markers than you'll see on most other guitars. They put two dots on frets 2, 5, 9, 12, and 17. I guess that's because the original Oahu Tonemaster had that pattern. I think it looks really cool and it doesn't bother me at all in navigating around the fretboard.
BTW... although I teach at a store that sells these instruments, I have no interest (financially) in them. It doesn't matter to me whether you buy one or not, I'm just reporting my observations.
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My Site | Doug's Free Tab
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