Gold Tone CC-50TR Cripple Creek Traveler Banjo (Five String, Maple)

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Price: $345.00    

Product Description

The Cripple Creek 50 Traveler (CC-50TR) is an affordable open back � A-scale � banjo suited for kids and on the road use. This model features the same openback 11” pot assembly design as the popular CC-50 but includes a short scale neck that tunes a whole step above a standard banjo (we've eliminated the first two frets). Although it is an “A-scale � model, using a set of medium gauge banjo strings will easily tune to a standard G tuning typically used in bluegrass and other styles of banjo. Includes gigbag.

Gold Tone CC-50TR Cripple Creek Traveler Banjo (Five String, Maple) Review

Before purchasing, I checked Gold Tone's website for the specs on this banjo and it said 'maple neck' but the banjo I got didn't have a maple neck, which is fine, but not what is shown on gold tone's website. The neck is mahogany, or sure looks like it, (mahogany is a very common wood used for banjo necks, maple and walnut are also very common). Some say that mahogany banjos have a sweeter tone than maple, I like the tone of this banjo. The rim is a ply (3 or 4) and looks like mahogany on the outside, and maybe maple on the inside?
Looks to be built in china, as there is a Made in China sticker on it, but this banjo doesn't have some of the issues that other 'made in china' banjos have, like high action or a neck that needs re-setting.
The banjo is fine for what I bought it for, which is playing in my car, in the driver's seat. My other travel banjo is a Deering Goodtime, open back (great banjo), but I have to sit in the passenger seat, or the back seat, or roll down the window so the neck will have clearance. The Gold Tone 'C' scale backpack banjo is shorter still, however I played a friends and the neck was too skinny and the strings were too close together, also the pot was a little small. This 'A' scale banjo has a nice full size diameter neck which I'm pleased with and the bridge seems like a full size one (and of decent quality), so the strings are nicely spaced as on a full 'G' scale banjo.
Looks wise, this banjo has what I would describe as a painted tobacco sunburst over a walnut, or dark brown stain finish. I say painted because the black part is opaque, not transparent like a stained burst would be. You can still see the wood grain on the main part of the neck and I think it looks cool, but am not sure how it will look when it gets a little dinged up. Nice looking arm rest, and the tail piece is a looker too.
Set up - not bad, it was shipped with the bridge up and in place (usually banjos ship with the bridge laying down). It was almost in tune and the intonation was pretty much on also. Action was not low, but not too high - totally playable.
Components - 11" pot, nice, really helps the tone and volume. I like the tuners fine even though they are guitar style, they seem of decent quality. Bridge seems also decent. Tail piece is better than I expected, it's solid (thick) and it's adjustable, and was set close to the head like I prefer. Fretboard is spec'd as rosewood, but it's so dark that it looks like ebony which would be really cool - we'll see. The fret job is decent, no real rough edges and it sounds true - intonation wise, up the neck.
I paid $239 plus shipping, the Gold Tone website has a sug. ret. price of $339, I probably wouldn't be as stoked on this banjo if I had paid that much. Of course a real bluegrass banjo will cost you much, much more.
Finally, nice tone, plunky but not crappy at all. Good looking banjo, only thing I would change if I was designing it would be the peg head, I don't like Gold Tone's or Deering's peg head design, it's just an aesthetics thing. If stolen, I would buy another one.

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