After lurking here for sometime, I finally made my mind up I wanted a Deering or Gold Tone Openback. I didn't want the cheapest nor the most expensive of either brand. Finding a dealer here in B.C. for either of those two brands was not easy. I located a dealer in Victoria, B.C. and drove the 100 + kilometers to get there today. When I walked in I was immediately overwhelmed by the selection. The sales guy (who is also the banjo tech), took his time and patiently explained the differences to me. I told him that my price range was $500 - $600. After he played a whack of them for me, I decided on the Deering Goodtime Classic, which retails here in Canada for $679.00, $20 more than in the U.S. He told me that because I had come so far and was such a nice guy (lol), I could have it for $595.00 and agreed immediately!! I'd checked the Deering website prior to going there and discovered that gig bags and other accessories could be "purchased separately" and the gig back was just plain black anyway.
Out from the back he brings this beautifully emblazoned gig bag and puts the banjo in it. I kept my mouth shut. He looks in the zippered compartment and in there is another set of strings, a tuning key, a DVD and a Deering strap! Again, I kept my mouth shut. How am I supposed to know what's included and what isn't? :)
Are you still with me? This gets better. When I finally got home this evening, I open the case. What's in there? Not the Goodtime Classic, but the Classic Goodtime 'Special'. I was a little confused because it *IS* the same banjo I agreed to buy. I went to the Deering website again and saw that the 'Special' retails for over $900.00!! So I don't know if he erred or I got the smokin' deal of the century or what? The specs appear to be the same for both except the special says, "NEW Patent Pending Steel Special Tone Ring"
That makes the 'Special' worth $300 more than the other one? Whatever, I'm a happy camper