Gold Tone

Gold Tone "White Ladye" Banjo WL-250 with Case

Name: Gold Tone "White Ladye" Banjo WL-250 with Case
Brand: Gold Tone
SKU: ban049
Price: 1249.99 USD
Availability: InStock

SKU:ban049

$1,249.99

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n 1890 the world was rapidly changing and so, too, were banjos. The American industrial revolution was accelerating and both residential and industrial electric service was still a very new concept. Albert Conant Fairbanks of Boston, Massachusetts was working on a tone ring design that would revolutionize the banjo as the world knew it and bring it into the new "electric age". Thus, he settled on the name "Electric" for his new ring.

One of our premier models, the Mastertone WL-250 is a tribute to some of the most popular and coveted Old-Time banjos ever produced, the White Laydie and Electric banjos of the A.C. Fairbanks Banjo Company. The first Fairbanks White Laydie and Electric banjos were produced in the late 1800s and are held in very high regard among collectors and musicians. These banjos are also known for their bright clear tone and ample volume. These characteristics can be attributed to the unique design of the White Laydie tone ring. This scalloped-style ring was first conceived and patented between 1890 and 1895 by A.C. Fairbanks and Company as the "Electric" tone ring. In 1901, the first "White Laydie" banjos were produced. The White Laydie name was inspired by the blonde maple finish as well as the fancy inlays. The White Laydie banjo had the Electric tone ring, but over the years this ring became known as the "White Laydie" ring due to its association with the Victorian-styled "White Laydie" model banjo.

In honor of Mr. Fairbanks’s legacy and his legendary banjos, the WL-250 features a Fairbanks-inspired headstock and a replica of the legendary White Laydie tone ring. When paired with the solid maple rim construction, this tone ring makes for a banjo with the clarity and volume that are ideal for banjoists looking to add another voice to their banjo arsenal. The WL-250 is another way that Gold Tone strives to put high-quality professional grade instruments into the hands of musicians like you.