Gold Tone Mastertone ML-1: Missing Link Bela Fleck Baritone Banjo with Case, Left-handed

*Right-hand model shown. Listing is for a left-handed banjo.* A bari banjo designed by the great Béla Fleck

Inspired by John Hartford’s love for low-tuned banjos, Béla Fleck conceived the M-1 Missing Link Baritone Banjo. Béla’s previous experience with the Gold Tone cello banjo brought him to Wayne Rogers. The two collaborated in the design and, after many months of experimentation and various challenges, they now present the ML-1.

To produce the lower tone with a traditional sound in the lower register, they use a 12", 3-ply maple rim with a bronze tone ring. After beta-testing a variety of neck and bridge options, Béla signed off on the compound radius (5â€-9â€) ebony fingerboard attached to a hard rock Canadian maple neck and a cathedral-like radius bridge standing 7/8†over the signature black Remo head. Jumbo frets, Gold Tone's exclusive “Terminator†tailpiece and their patented ZeroGlide system complete the perfect formula for the throaty ML-1. Béla’s nouveau inlay design courses the length of the fingerboard and finishes on their C-cut headstock. Black binding, black tuner buttons and the black head create a bold, autonomous look.

Features Tonewoods

• Neck: Maple
• Resonator: 14" Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Compound radius, ebony
• Bridge: Maple with ebony cap; Radius-3/4"

Appointments

• Rim: 3-ply Canadian maple
• Wood Finish: Vintage Mahogany
• Fingerboard Inlay: Noveau
• Headstock Inlay: Noveau
• Neck Binding: Black ABS
• Body Binding: Black ABS

Hardware

• Nut: ZeroGlide Bone
• Tuners: Master Planetary Tuners
• Tone Ring: Bronze Bar Style
• Plating: Chrome
• Arm Rest: Gold Tone Engraved
• Strings: CGCEG - .018, .038w, .028, .022, .018
• Flange: N/A
• Tailpiece: Terminator
• Tension Hoop: Brass; Notched
• Hardshell case included