Béla Fleck's Low-tuned Masterpiece
Crafted in collaboration with virtuoso banjoist Béla Fleck, the Gold Tone Mastertone ML-1 Missing Link is a high-performance, 5-string baritone banjo. This low-tuned beauty boasts a 12-inch, rolled-brass tone ring topped with a Remo Black Suede head, supported by a 12-inch, 3-ply Canadian maple rim and a notched tension hoop. The ML-1 is one of the most playable baritone banjos you'll ever pick up, thanks to its slim hard-rock Canadian maple neck and lightning-fast, compound-radius ebony fingerboard. High-level players will appreciate the rock-solid stability afforded by the ML-1's GT Planetary tuners, radiused bridge, and Terminator tailpiece. You also get a Gold Tone engraved armrest, art nouveau fingerboard inlays, black binding, light-catching chrome-plated hardware, and a slick-looking high-gloss finish. Searching for a baritone worthy of a virtuoso? The Gold Tone Mastertone ML-1 Missing Link is indeed the missing link.
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Finding the missing link
Although Béla Fleck's Gold Tone CEB-5 cello-style banjo performed admirably in low-tuned applications, the master banjoist still felt that there was "a missing link" between his cello banjo and his standard 5-string instrument. Inspired by the legendary John Hartford's 12-inch, 1920s-era Farland, Béla collaborated with Gold Tone founder Wayne Rogers to create a world-class baritone model. After months of tweaking various prototypes, the Mastertone ML-1 Missing Link was finally perfected. Tuned to open C, an octave below the fifth fret of a standard 5-string banjo, the ML-1 fills the gap between a cello banjo and a standard model flawlessly.
Top-quality construction
The Gold Tone Mastertone ML-1 Missing Link will tackle any low-tuned application your throw at it. This exquisite baritone banjo is built upon a 3-ply Canadian maple rim supporting a 12-inch, rolled-brass tone ring. A 14-inch maple resonator ensures maximum volume and projection. A specially made 12-inch Remo Black Suede head carries a custom radiused, ebony-capped maple bridge, and an all-wound custom string set hooks up to a Terminator tailpiece. The ML-1's hard-rock Canadian maple neck is capped by a fast-playing, compound-radius ebony fingerboard, which is fitted with 22 jumbo frets. A Zero Glide nut and GT Master Planetary tuners round out the Mastertone ML-1 Missing Link.
Gold Tone: a legacy of music
The origins of Gold Tone go back to the folk music scene of the '70s, when musicians Wayne and Robyn Rogers opened a small music shop. Fifteen years later, they founded Gold Tone Banjos in Titusville, Florida. Their first product, the TB-100 banjo, was designed by Wayne. As demand for this critically acclaimed instrument increased, the company expanded its offerings to include a selection of fretted instruments that combine modern innovation and timeless vintage design. The goal? To inspire all musicians, from beginners to professionals, to realize their musical dreams. Today, Sweetwater is pleased to offer you Gold Tone's exciting range of 4-, 5-, and 6-string banjos, banjo ukuleles, metal- and wood-bodied resonator guitars, Weissenborn Hawaiian steel guitars, and mandolins.
Gold Tone Mastertone ML-1 Missing Link Baritone Banjo Features:
- 5-string baritone banjo designed in collaboration with the legendary Béla Fleck
- 3-ply Canadian maple rim supports a 12-inch, rolled-brass tone ring
- 14-inch maple resonator ensures maximum volume and projection
- 12-inch Remo Black Suede head and 12-inch notched tension hoop
- Rock-solid Zero Glide nut, GT Planetary tuners, radiused bridge, and Terminator tailpiece
- Gold Tone engraved armrest
- Comfortable hard-rock Canadian maple neck and easy-playing compound-radius ebony fingerboard
- Eye-grabbing art nouveau fingerboard inlays, black binding, and light-catching chrome-plated hardware
- Attractive high-gloss finish
