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A Tribute to the Legendary Laydie





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Our Product Research Team





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The Gold Tone Mastertone WL-250 White Ladye is an open-back tenor banjo that pays homage to one of the most popular banjos of all time ? the A.C. Fairbanks Whyte Laydie. This banjo’s foundation is a 3-ply maple rim measuring 11 inches in diameter. From there, a Whyte Laydie tone ring imbues the rim’s balanced sound with extra punch and volume. You also get a comfortably carved maple neck. Clawhammer players at Sweetwater appreciate the WL-250’s fingerboard scoop, which provides much-appreciated playing comfort. Finally, the Mastertone WL-250’s Fairbanks-inspired headstock and Cloud inlays give the banjo an instantly familiar vintage feel.





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Iconic Whyte Laydie tone ring





The Whyte Laydie tone ring was initially dubbed the “Electric” tone ring for bringing the banjo sound into the “Electric Age.” However, the ring slowly became known as the Whyte Laydie ? the name of the banjo that made this tone ring famous. The Whyte Laydie tone ring boasts a 3-piece design with a solid steel hoop resting on a scalloped brass ring secured by a brass sleeve. Thanks to the Whyte Laydie tone ring, the Mastertone WL-250 delivers a bright, clear, and punchy tone with awe-inspiring volume.





Traditional open-back pot





In keeping with its old-school roots, the Mastertone WL-250 features an 11-inch open-back pot. Gold Tone constructs the rim from three maple plies, giving the banjo the warm and balanced tone expected from a vintage design. From there, the rim is adorned with an 11-inch notched tension hoop and 24 chrome-plated brackets. The Mastertone WL-250 ships with a long-lasting Remo head and an ebony-capped maple bridge.





Comfortable maple neck and scooped ebony fingerboard





While the Whyte Ladyie tone ring is undoubtedly the star of the show, we can’t neglect the neck. The Mastertone WL-250’s neck is made from maple and carved into a super-comfortable profile. It measures just 1-3/16 inches at the nut, giving you enough room between strings before feeling overly chunky. The neck is topped with ebony and studded with 18 easy-playing frets. Moreover, the ebony fingerboard is scooped to provide extra playing comfort for clawhammer players.





Gold Tone Mastertone WL-250 White Ladye Banjo Features:


3-ply maple rim creates a traditional tone


11-inch notched tension hoop and 24 brackets tighten the head to perfection


Whyte Ladye tone ring adds extra punch and projection


Maple neck offers fluid playability


Scooped ebony fingerboard for clawhammer players


ZeroGlide nut makes open and fretted notes sound more similar and boosts tuning stability


Gold Tone Master Planetary tuners keep you in tune