Re: Gold Tone OM-800 vs Trinity College TM 325
The Gold Tone has laminated mahogany back and sides, while the Trinity College is solid maple back and sides. I would go for solid wood if I had a choice. Also, the TC has a short scale (20”) that makes it easier to play. The God Tone is a long scale, 23 inches I believe. I would go for the TC myself. They are made by the same company that makes the well regarded Kentucky mandolins, Saga. The down side is that the TC has some intonation issues due to their use of an incorrectly compensated bridge, but there is an easy modification that, combined with a slight tilt adjustment, takes care of that. The Gold Tone does have some things going for it though. They come with a cast tailpiece, radius fretboard, bone nut, adjustable bridge, and a built in pickup. These items are all upgrades over the TC with flat board and fixed bridge. Note : my comments about the Gold Tone OM 800+, NOT the older version without the plus. Many of those upgrades came as a result of the model change.
If you are buying either one as an older model used, I’d try to go for the made in Korea versions. I think they are better than the made in China ones. The Korean TCs have a Celtic knot on the headstock, not the Celtic Cross.
My octave is a Fender, believe it or not. They contracted to have these made at the Korean factory where the TC was made just after Saga moved TC production to China. 2006-2008. They are virtual copies of the TC except they have correctly compensated bridges, a built in passive pickup that works pretty well, and the Fender logo on the headstock! If you can find one of those used it would probably float your boat, but they are scarce.
The Horas are not half bad, really. All solid woods with competent factory construction. Their weak spots are the miserable bridge they use and the lousy standard string set. The version that has the built in pickup, which you probably want anyway, uses a much better bridge, and people have reported being satisfied with it. In that case, all you would have to do to get an acceptable instrument is take off the factory strings and put on a set of J80s, then you’d be good to go.
Don
2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
2011 Weber Bitterroot A
1974 Martin Style A
Bookmarks