Gold Tone Lap Steel

I bought the Gold Tone lap steel when it first came out a few years ago.Theoretically,a new instrument woldn't have the problems that an old one might have.Big mistake.The finish was fine and the tuners are effective.I realize that they were copying the Oahu Tonemaster,but they should has placed both knobs away from the player instead of volume and tone on opposite sides.I would have rated features higher except for that.

I was somewhat underwhelmed with the sound when it arrived.Different amps and effects didn't really help it.The quacking sounds that it produced became annoying after I'd played some better grade steels.I play something of a blues-rock hybrid with some Hawaiian and hillbilly inflections.That requires hot pickups.In desperation,I sent it to L.Fralin for a rewind.They replaced the poor ceramic magnets with some poorer alnicos.Rick Aiello then fit it with his neodymium-iron-boron mags.Fralins P-90 overwind then came to life.The original pots were atrocious and wiring was replaced because it was shoddy.The jack went bad after the pickup was installed and had to be replaced.Fortunately,it now sounds really good.I can't give it a good rating because the original electronics were so bad.

Tailpiece/saddle needed to be notched with a hacksaw to hold strings in place.Nut could have been a little higher.Finish was fine with an unusual cross burst on back.

It is quite solid and I would not hesitate to play it on stage now.The problems were all electric in nature.Its now one of my favorites!

I never contacted company.Maybe they have improved their quality control and electronics

I've been into resophonics since the early 70's but started to get involved with electrics within the last few years.After playing '55 Fender Champion and '60 Gretsch Jet Mainliner,I knew that the Gold Tone aws lacking.If stolen I would not replace it.It was made playable for around $100.Unfortunately,I bought it to avoid problems,not to take on an electrical basket case.

New lap steel, made in Korea, set-up in United States. 25" scale with a hard plastic nut and massive metal bridge.
The string attach to the bridge and are not through the body.
The wood is a very nice mahogany, with trim, a translucent sunburst finish. The workmanship is on par with some of the best in the US.
One single coil pickup with excellent complex harmonics.
About 22 frets on the body with actual frets and a fretboard, no cheap fret marks here.
Volume and tone control.
It is styled after the vintage instrument Oahu Tone master.
Tuners work great and hold the string well, no problems with it going out of tune.

Sound is wonderful complex harmonics, yet is powerful and rich.
With the tone control one can go from fender bite to nice mellow hawaiian. Sustain is very good and much better than my Gibson lap steel as well as the overall sound, but instrument is also more massive with wood.
I like the sound a lot.
I am using a variety of solid state amps, but my main amp is a tubed Carvin nomad with a 12" speaker and 50 watts of power.

It is a steel guitar so the action is based on the bar and strings, actually the action is plenty high that the fretboard and frets do not get in the way when playing aggresively.
The finish and wood appear to be excellent.
My only nag when playing is the volume knob is in the way of my right hand and until i get used to it i tend to turn it down while playing.
Intonation was right on and the overall setup is very good.

I have gigged with this guitar 5 times...as you know bedroom playing is different from actual gigs when all the weirdness of the instrument tends to come out.
I think this instrument will last a very long time and needs no backup when taken to a gig.
I believe these Gold Tone instruments are very good secrets.
I talked with a fellow that performs banjo setup for a living.
When he setup a Gold Tone banjo he said about the banjo that it was as good as any Gibson he had seen...hmmmm!

I have been playing a long time and own a lot of gear...though i play as a hobby I perform about twice a week for large and small crowds, though my main instrument is guitar, I really like the lap steel.
This instrument and especially the price ads character to any band situation and for the price you really cannot go wrong.