georgeireton - Posted - 09/06/2023:  06:03:54

I have a guitar on order now. Not sure which GT PBS-M is ordered. Would you comment on any sonic or design differences? I think there is a small price difference. Thanks!

Edited by - georgeireton on 09/06/2023 06:18:48

Iceman6937 - Posted - 09/06/2023:  06:24:41

I think they are the same guitar, branded differently to help distinguish the "M" model (all solid hog) from their "regular" PBS base model.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 09/06/2023:  11:19:25

It's been a couple of years or more since Gold Tone added the "Mastertone" designation description to the top of the line solid mahogany model. In terms of marketing/sales speak I'm thinking they did that so that there is a clear difference to the consumer between the solid wood guitar vs. the lower priced models made with laminate wood. 

But I noticed some online dealers don't include "Mastertone" as part of the description. They might just be dropping the ball - since the PBS-M goes for around $1500 these days, I would think you'd want to do everything you can to make sure a potential customer knows that this is the top of the line guitar. 

Gold Tone has trademarked Mastertone for its top of the line banjos, including the $3700 Bela Fleck "Bluegrass Heart" model.

When I first came across this as a Gold Tone trademark some time back I was surprised - even though Gibson hasn't made a banjo in Nashville since around 2010 - I just assumed they still owned the Mastertone trademark.  

 

georgeireton - Posted - 09/06/2023:  11:30:06

Cool. Thanks. I told the local music shop dealer to get the PBS-M, thinking it was the best one. Then I saw those without the designated “Mastertone”. That put the question in my mind. I thought there might have been a different cone or wood quality etc. it doesn’t sound like it. I am green as grass on the reso, but I know enough to get the best I can afford etc.
Thanks again!

hlpdobro - Posted - 09/06/2023:  12:28:03

I'm sure that Gold Tone will respond to an email or phone question.

h

PancakeBillW - Posted - 11/17/2023:  17:28:24

Would a GT PBS from 2004 have the M suffix if it was the solid mahog? If not, is there some way to tell? The pics of the back I have seen look just like the M's of today, nd not like the other non M units.

Brad Bechtel - Posted - 11/17/2023:  18:07:15

quote:

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I'm sure that Gold Tone will respond to an email or phone question.