I acquired this fantastic banjo new in 2007 from Blue Mountain Music for $1,500 plus tax with the intent to learn the banjo while vacationing in Blue Ridge, GA. I did not know at the time that these banjos were revered by bluegrass banjo players for their wonderful tone and sustain. I just liked the quality of the instrument and the way it sounded. I have played it on and off over the last 12 years, however my real interest became the guitar which I play significantly more often than the banjo - which is why I’m selling it. This banjo has always been played with care and when not played, has resided in my climate controlled studio. This is why it is still basically brand new.
The Description This beautiful banjo is made from the finest materials. It is a joy to play and makes booming, rich harmonious tones with great sustain. The setup is perfect and it stays in tune (I hadn’t played it for 9 months and when I picked it up to play, it was still in tune!). Know that the GF-85 is no longer in production and its rarity has made it even more desirable. If your in the market for the Mercedes Benz of banjos; this is the one.
What SMI says about this banjo In the late 1970s Saga Musical Instruments (SMI) made banjo history with the introduction of the Gold Star Banjo. These instruments were the first production banjos since the 1930s to be manufactured with the lethal combination of a three-ply maple rim and a single piece flange! As a result, Gold Star banjos became collector’s items for the current crop of pickers during the 1980s and 1990s and are still the object of many a collector’s desire. The GF-85 easily lives up to its reputation as a banjo in which the sound quality and value far exceeds anything at 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 clean slate and are made the old-fashioned way, replicating ’30s 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 on the name proudly.
Specifications Maker: Saga Musical Instruments Model: Gold Star GF-85 Flathead 5 String Year: 2007 Condition: Mint Body Type: Flathead Resonator Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer Metal Hardware: Triple nickel-plated Peghead Overlay: Ebony Peghead Binding: White ABS Peghead Inlays: Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Style 3 Truss Rod: Adjustable Truss Rod Cover: Black ABS Teardrop with original plastic covering Tuners: Gotoh Sealed Planetary Tuners and Geared 5th with Pearloid Buttons Neck and Peghead: Honduran Mahogany Neck Binding: White ABS Fingerboard: Solid Indian Rosewood Fingerboard Position Inlays: Traditional Style-3 MOP Nut Material: Bone Nut Width: 1 3/16″ Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver Scale Length: 26 3/8″ Resonator: Figured Honduran Mahogany - pre-war style, deep-arch tapered and wall bound Resonator Binding & Purfling: White ABS Coordinator Rods: Dual Adjustable Rim: Deluxe 3-ply Hard Rock Maple Tone Ring: Die-cast flathead 20-hole with Bronze Cast Bell Flange: Die-cast Single-piece Head: Remo 11″ with Medium Crown Bridge: Aged Maple with Ebony Saddle Tailpiece: Presto Strings: new GHS Pro Phosphor Bronze with loop end: 10-12-14-22-10 Case: Premier Black fitted hardshell with black padded plush interior, Keys and Finger Picks Serial number: 070075
