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Gold Star Banjos
Gold Star GF-85 5-String Banjo
Retail $1695.00
Click on link for Current price
In the late 1970’s Saga Musical Instruments made banjo
history with the introduction of the Gold star banjo. These instruments were the
first production banjos since the 1930’s to be manufactured with the lethal
combination of a three-ply maple rim, a single piece and the copper rich Pre-War
tone ring alloy! As a result, Gold Star banjos became collector’s items for
the current crop of pickers during the 1980’s and 1990’s and are still the
object of many a collector’s desire.
In keeping with the Gold Star tradition and after many years
of design development, Saga introduces the first Gold Star banjo re-issue! The
new GF-85 easily lives up to its reputation for a banjo in which sound quality
and value far exceeds anything twice the price. Produced with the same attention
to detail as the original models and under the watchful eye of our skilled
makers, these reissue Gold Stars come from an almost and are made the old
fashioned way, replicating 30’s era banjos with a few modern touches like a
geared 5th. Just one look and you will know that the GF-85 is every
bit a Gold Star and carries the name proudly.
 | Three-ply rock maple rim
| Traditional Mahogany neck with adjustable truss rod and double cut
headstock
| Rosewood fingerboard with medium nickel-silver frets
| Beautiful mother-of-pearl, Gold Star script and style 3 inlay pattern
| Single piece die-cast resonator flange
| 20-hole flathead-style tone ring
| Deluxe mahogany resonator
| P-140 Planetary tuners
| P-142 Geared fifth-peg
| P-118 Old Presto tailpiece
| P-104 armrest
| Deluxe maple bridge
| All hardware is triple-nickel plated
| Shop adjusted |
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Most banjo players agree that the ideal Bluegrass banjo was the flathead
built in very limited quantities during the 1930’s. Earl Scruggs, Sonny
Osborne, and J.D. Crowe have all owned these models valued in excess of $10,000.
Gold Star is a replica of the design and captures the sound of these classic
banjos at a price within the reach of any serious banjo player.
Extensive metallurgical research in the laboratories of the University of
California has resulted in the copper rich bell bronze alloy used in the tone
ring of the GF-100 series. Each tone ring is cast, machined, and plated, then
carefully hand fitted. The rim itself is made of three overlapping plys of rock
maple, routed to the exact configuration used in the nineteen thirties flatheads
– the only construction that can duplicate the old sound.
Available in three models, distinguished by their inlay patterns, every Gold
Star flathead has the utmost in volume and cutting power combined with every
nuance and shading of tone.
Gold Star GF-100FE Mahogany Flying Eagle 5-String Banjo
GF-100FE
Retail $1995.00
Click on link for current price
Most banjo players agree that the ideal bluegrass banjo was the flathead built
in very limited quantities during the 1930's. To meet this demand and to offer
it at a price any player could afford, Saga Musical Instruments introduced the
original GF-100 banjo in the early 1970's. Ever since these banjos were
discontinued in the late 1980's due to costly manufacturing methods in Japan,
they have continued to be topics of discussion for their legendary sound and
value. It's 2005 and the new Gold Star GF-100FE (Flying Eagle) is back and
better than ever before. With close to 25 years to improve these already
legendary instruments, we are sure you will agree that these banjos are the best
value available on the market today!
| Select mahogany neck
| Bound mahogany resonator with inlaid double concentric rings
| Cast Bell Bronze Tone Ring
| Deluxe 3-ply rock maple rim
| Double coordinator rods
| Single piece die-cast flange
| Triple nickel-plated hardware
| Presto Tailpiece
| P-142 geared fifth peg
| P-140 geared planetary tuners
| Hand-cut mother-of-pearl inlays carefully laid out in the "Flying
Eagle" pattern on both the ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay
| Deluxe re-issue Gold Star hardshell case
| Shop Adjusted |
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Gold Star GF-100HF Mahogany Hearts and Flowers 5-String Banjo
GF-100HF
Retail $1995.00
Click on link for current price
Most banjo players agree that the ideal bluegrass banjo was the flathead built
in very limited quantities during the 1930's. To meet this demand and to offer
it at a price any player could afford, Saga Musical Instruments introduced the
original GF-100 banjo in the early 1970's. Ever since these banjos were
discontinued in the late 1980's due to costly manufacturing methods in Japan,
they have continued to be topics of discussion for their legendary sound and
value. It's 2005 and the new Gold Star GF-100HF (Hearts and Flowers) is back and
better than ever before. With close to 25 years to improve these already
legendary instruments, we are sure you will agree that these banjos are the best
value available on the market today!
| Select mahogany neck
| Bound mahogany resonator with inlaid double concentric rings
| Cast Bell Bronze Tone Ring
| Deluxe 3-ply rock maple rim
| Double coordinator rods
| Single piece die-cast flange
| Triple nickel-plated hardware
| Presto Tailpiece
| P-142 geared fifth peg
| P-140 geared planetary tuners
| Hand-cut mother-of-pearl inlays carefully laid out in the "Hearts and
Flowers" pattern on both the ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay
| Deluxe re-issue Gold Star hardshell case
| Shop Adjusted |
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Gold Star GF-100W Mahogany Wreath 5-String Banjo
GF-100W
Retail $1995.00
Click on link for current price
Most banjo players agree that the ideal bluegrass banjo was the flathead built
in very limited quantities during the 1930's. To meet this demand and to offer
it at a price any player could afford, Saga Musical Instruments introduced the
original GF-100 banjo in the early 1970's. Ever since these banjos were
discontinued in the late 1980's due to costly manufacturing methods in Japan,
they have continued to be topics of discussion for their legendary sound and
value. It's 2005 and the new Gold Star GF-100W (Wreath) is back and better than
ever before. Each instrument has that same great tone that banjos players like
Tom Adams are looking for.
| Select mahogany neck
| Bound mahogany resonator with inlaid double concentric rings
| Cast Bell Bronze Tone Ring
| Deluxe 3-ply rock maple rim
| Double coordinator rods
| Single piece die-cast flange
| Triple nickel-plated hardware
| Presto Tailpiece
| P-142 geared fifth peg
| P-140 geared planetary tuners
| Hand-cut mother-of-pearl inlays carefully laid out in the
"Wreath" pattern on both the ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay
| Deluxe re-issue Gold Star hardshell case
| Shop Adjusted |
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