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The Golden Era banjo is a unique model of the Deering line. It's designed
to reproduce the most sought-after five-string banjos of the pre-war era.
The unique features of the Golden Era are the thicker neck shape which
creates more sustain and the deeper resonator which provides that warm
gutsy tone.
We use an Ebony fingerboard and the
flame Eastern hard rock maple of the neck and resonator are stained
with a cremona sunburst stain. Mother-of-pearl inlays are the traditional
"Hearts and Flowers" pattern.
The Maple rim is turned to traditional dimensions and mounted with a zinc flange, twenty-hole virgin bell bronze tone-ring and presto style tailpiece with careful attention to original dimensions to recreate the sound and performance traditionalists desire.
You can hear the sound of the Golden Era banjo on many
albums by fine musicians such as John Hickman and Byron Berline's
"Double Trouble" album, Josh Williams' "Old Town of Home" album,
and on Herb Pedersen's Desert Rose Band album, "Life Goes On".
SPECIAL FEATURES ON THE UPPER LINE
On the Calico, Golden Era, Hartford, G.D.L., Ivanhoe, and Gabriella banjos the inside of the resonator has a tapered side wall. More sound is directed outward through the flange holes instead of being caught inside between parallel walls. This feature increases the volume of a banjo and improves the tone. And on these models, each fret is glued in place to ensure the finest fret work possible. This tedious process pays off with perfectly even frets and easy refretting in the future. The frets of the Maple Blossom, Deluxe, Sierra, and Boston are hammered in by a skilled craftsman.
WOODS AFFECT ON THE SOUND
The sound of a banjo is greatly affected be the type of wood used in its construction. Though most of our banjos have the same pot construction, the wood of the neck affects the ultimate sound. Maple has a bright, crisp sound, while mahogany creates a sweeter tone. Walnut tends to be brighter that mahogany, and sweeter than maple. East Indian rosewood has a brassy sound compared with other woods. And Brazilian rosewood has a wonderful bold and brassy, yet sweet tone that's in a class be itself. Custom options in wood are available to ensure that you get the sound you desire.
"Firstly, the fit - the finish - the inlay work is just sheer perfection
with its chrome plating, my Golden Era is a dazzling display of the high
quality craftsmanship that you and your fine staff are capable of
producing. Everyone who sees this banjo is literally astonished at its
beauty. Secondly, the tone and volume of this banjo is simply
astonishing. The single most repeated comment is how mellow is the
tone produced by that Hartford tone ring. Opting for the Granadillo
wood tone ring was a terrific move because no one around here had
even heard of such a notion as a wooden tone ring and even the
biggest buck banjo around cannot compare to my Golden Era's rich
deep tone. When the tone is combined with the volume of the
instrument- Boy do heads ever turn!! I mean it just bellows out a tone.
If literature is right about the tone and volume improving and increasing
with play-in time I have a jam session dominator on my hands- and I
am sure excited about those prospects. Everyone who has played it
has been impressed with how smooth and fast and easy the golden
Era proves itself to be. I started with a $100 Harmony banjo and had
came to a point where I was struggling to improve. Now I am really
progressing again. I am sure this is due to its matchless playability and
that it is very difficult for me to put it down. It's like I died and went to
Heaven."
Jim Farnell,
Uniontown, OH
"Just a few lines to let you know haw pleased I am with my Golden Era
banjo. I've only had it for two months and already it's like and old
friend. It's perfect in every respect, workmanship, material, quality, and
most important TONE and PLAYABILITY. My wife's even a little
jealous, says I give that Banjo more attention and time than I do her.
Maybe she's right."
Bob King,
Diamond, OH
