anyone played a gold tone bouzouki?

[tmsweeney]

was thinking about a bouzouki, anybody played the Goldtone?

[CES]

General consensus is that they’re in the same class as the Trinity College offerings. Decent, well built, affordable starter instruments, but don’t expect it to compete with a Sobell I own an open back GT banjo that’s a well built, decent, affordable starter, but skipped straight past that phase to Weber when I got my OM. As with all such instruments, I’m sure there are some gems and some duds, but GT at least does some degree of QC inspection and set up before they ship them out to dealers, so there’s that. But, I’d still buy from a shop that does a good set up if you go the new route.

[tmsweeney]

Thanks CES, I'm not ready to go Sobell, and after hearing some YouTube demos I think I am better off tuning my Weber Gallatin octave as GDAD or GDGD, its higher quality than the GT and paid for so...., if I see a nice Trillium or Sobell I might be intrigued

[Seter]

I have a Gold Tone octave mandolin, I'd say tonewise the Hora OM it replaced was actually better but the Gold Tone was much better as far as fit/finish/playability etc. Your move with retuning the Weber is probably a good call.

[urobouros]

I think the GT & TC lines are good for a starter but wouldn't go that route if you're currently playing a Weber.

[MarkRB]

I’m no expert and new to the bouzouki but I have one and like it, though I did change the strings to four courses instead of octave.