These instruments are not built for tone. They are an accessible way to get into banjo, or a second/camping/travel instrument. They are made to be easy to play and to be affordable. So your expectations for what it should do may be set too high.

I have two Goodtimes and they are both strung with Nylon. I like them both very much and play them regularly. They are especially good for late night or early morning playing when another is sleeping.

I have an AC1 and a Goodtime (plus a few other banjos) and they definitely have different tones but I rather like how the AC1 sounds overall. With tone being so subjective all I can really say is that I find the AC1 to sound good but what I think sounds good you could think sounds terrible haha. Its openback so its way more mellow than my Goodtime with a resonator. Maybe there's some slight adjustments that could liven it up?

Head tension, neck to pot tightness, and bridge angle are the 3 quick easy things to check that could cause a dead sound. In fact, on my AC1 if the bridge isn't canted ever so slightly towards the tailpiece the #3 string sounds completely dead.

In addition to checking the things localhost suggests, try some strings of a lighter gauge. I'm more partial to the AC-1 than the GoodTime because it has an adjustable truss rod in the neck, which is absent in the GoodTIme.

Obviously a Gold Tone AC is going to sound and feel like trash after you've been playing a Deering Goodtime. The Goodtime is hard rock maple, a real instrument. The ACs aren't much more than plastic toys.

The AC series can certainly compete with wood rim banjos. My AC12 is my daily player. It is twelve inch so that probably helps. The sound is a bit different but not disappointing in any way. I certainly prefer it to my Recording King OT25 which like the Goodtime has a decent wood rim.

Of course peoples tastes vary and in the end if you're not happy with your AC5+1 and you can return it you should.

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Originally posted by KCJones

Obviously a Gold Tone AC is going to sound and feel like trash after you've been playing a Deering Goodtime. The Goodtime is hard rock maple, a real instrument. The ACs aren't much more than plastic toys.

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I find myself in disagreement with this statement. The ACs have a good neck, with the same profile as most Gold Tone instruments. Yes, it's a plastic pot, but they're very playable and reasonably sturdy, and I was pleasantly surprised by its tone when I first played one. They're also available new at roughly half the price of a Goodtime.

Personally, as a starter instrument or one for a kid who's interested in banjo but who knows if said kid will actually stick with the instrument...? I think the ACs are a well-thought out product that offers very good value. IMO they play and sound better than just about any bottlecap I've had my hands on...

>with the same profile as most Gold Tone instruments.

Which feels great if you're transitioning from a career in baseball.

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Originally posted by KCJones

>with the same profile as most Gold Tone instruments.

Which feels great if you're transitioning from a career in baseball.

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Well, there IS that...   I, too, find Gold Tone necks a bit on the "clubby" side. But it doesn't take long to get used to it.

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Originally posted by eagleisland

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Originally posted by KCJones

>with the same profile as most Gold Tone instruments.

Which feels great if you're transitioning from a career in baseball.

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Well, there IS that...   I, too, find Gold Tone necks a bit on the "clubby" side. But it doesn't take long to get used to it.

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Neck feel can be about as subjective as tone. I wish it were slightly wider but I love the satin finish. It's so smooth. I do like the good time neck feel, but without a truss rod I can barely play mine above the 5th fret due to bowing. But the first 5 frets sound pretty good lol.

I Apologize for the thread drift…

>I do like the good time neck feel, but without a truss rod I can barely play mine above the 5th fret due to bowing. But the first 5 frets sound pretty good lol.<

Are you sure it’s a bowed neck, and not an out-of-round rim? I’ve been tweeking old Goodtimes for over 20 years, and although some have a slightly bowed neck, none have ever been unplayable. The biggest problem I’ve found, that you will never see, unless you know to look for it, is the top of the rim being squeezed out of round, from years of string tension. You look down the neck, see a slight bow, and think that’s the reason for high action… but it’s not… it’s actually the collapsing rim changing the neck angle. Here is how I’ve fixed several:

banjohangout.org/topic/408250

Dean T I truly appreciate the support but I've used a straight edge across the fret board to make the determination. I wish it was something other than the neck, replacement necks for them seem to be unobtainium.

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Originally posted by localhost

Dean T I truly appreciate the support but I've used a straight edge across the fret board to make the determination. I wish it was something other than the neck, replacement necks for them seem to be unobtainium.

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Yes, the price Deering quotes for one is about what you could buy a whole used Goodtime for.  I just had to chuck a bowed neck on a GoodTime.  Could not get the thing playable for kids.  It happens, but it's not that common. 

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Originally posted by KCJones

>with the same profile as most Gold Tone instruments.

Which feels great if you're transitioning from a career in baseball.

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I just pulled out my calipers and my gold tone and good time have pretty similar thickness.

I wonder what you'd say about my white laydie or stewart universal favorite.  If the above are baseball bats, then these must be telephone poles.

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Originally posted by localhost

I have an AC1 and a Goodtime (plus a few other banjos) and they definitely have different tones but I rather like how the AC1 sounds overall. With tone being so subjective all I can really say is that I find the AC1 to sound good but what I think sounds good you could think sounds terrible haha. Its openback so its way more mellow than my Goodtime with a resonator. Maybe there's some slight adjustments that could liven it up?

Head tension, neck to pot tightness, and bridge angle are the 3 quick easy things to check that could cause a dead sound. In fact, on my AC1 if the bridge isn't canted ever so slightly towards the tailpiece the #3 string sounds completely dead.

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Hey thanks a lot for the ideas. I asked them to switch out the strings for a heavier gauge so I'm wondering if maybe that could be an issue. I ordered the original strings that come w it to test them out but I just hope they arrive before the return window is closed! 
 

i definitely don't think it sounds bad, just not what I'm looking for but there's a lot of components that could be causing  the difference. The larger pot for one. 
 

Now I've been looking for at the WR-7 but I'm not sure I'd want to pay the extra $300

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Originally posted by thompkinz

Now I've been looking for at the WR-7 but I'm not sure I'd want to pay the extra $300

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This begs the question - do you want a  guitar banjo  (with 7 strings) or a banjo like the AC5+1?