Gold Tone Criple Creek CC-50RP

CC-50RP, manufactured under license in China Gold Tone (R resonator, P Pack)
5 string bluegrass banjo with mahogany resonator, brass tone, good mechanical
Very well regulated, low action, well positioned easel
Spartan decoration, we see that the manufacturer put more on the quality of materials and finishing on the loook apparent.
It comes in a beautiful carton carved image and a sample of tablature Cripple Creek (hence its name I guess), a marked soft case comes with Gold Tone.

UTILIZATION

Easy to play, the frets are well finished, the handle is nice.
Enough light, it does not weigh too much on the strap.



SOUNDS

Guitarist, I wanted to try to see the banjo.
The sound is powerful and well stamped with sustain, even without tabs it rocks!
I have not tried the other banjos Stagg style or another but in my opinion it is far better, perhaps even better as the Fender FB-54 banjo.
This is a good banjo for beginners and advance.


OVERALL OPINION

Purchased in April 2010 295 Euros including shipping to the site banjostore.net (do not trust the name is a Spanish site!). The boss is very nice but Caesar inventory quantities are fanciful. Immediately the order is placed, he did more (while he was still 5 on the site!) And he offered me a banjo-end more expensive than less aesthetically pleasing to me: do not give in and wait! (I saw on the internet after he had already done the deed with another buyer). Received within 4 weeks but the value is unbeatable, I'm very happy.
Do not hesitate to take along with metal finger tabs for it is a pain to find (plus I'm in Paris ...)
FYI I am waiting to receive a book-CD "Banjo Songs" by Geoff Hohwald who seems not too bad and there are more than ...