Gold Star G-12W (1979)

Description

While it's now widely known that Japan was manufacturing some truly fantastic guitars in the 1970s and 1980s, the story of Japanese-built banjos is less well-known. That's lucky for all us aficionados - it means that fantastic instruments, like this 1979 Gold Star G-12W, can still be had at a reasonable price below that of a brand new intermediate instrument. In the same way that Yamaha and Takamine mostly stuck to Martin's designs, Gold Stars tended to closely follow Gibson's banjos, with even the logotype on the headstock and the fingerboard inlays calling to mind or outright copying vintage Gibson designs. But unlike most of the Gibson banjos being produced in the newgrass era of the 1970s, the G-12W features an archtop Mastertone tone ring for a more classic, pre-war sound. The natural brightness of the archtop construction is further bolstered by the punchy maple neck, pot, and resonator, for a twang that cuts right through the attack of any bluegrass stringband. It will be a lucky picker indeed who ends up with this too-cool vintage instrument.

This instrument arrived in our store in very good condition, with a below-average amount of playing wear and a good set up. Most scratches and scuffs are of a typical manner in both size and distribution, with one larger dent on the back of the resonator. The action is very low and speedy, and the neck is very straight. All hardware appears to be original. Included in the price is a non-original hard-shell case.

*Please note, per our return policy, all sales on used and consignment instruments are final.*