Great idea, but not a serious instrument
599138
If you are a piano player, you won't lie this. Keys do not respond well. When playing more than 3 notes at a time, all notes do not sound. Also when playing fast all notes do not sound. Great idea, but not a serious instrument.
2337188
This isn't a bad little drum. It's well made and very pretty. I love the paint job on it. The skin stays nice and tight. The issue is that I got this for my 14 month old. He loves playing on my big djembe. However this one does not have a good sound. It just isn't much to play on unless you are wanting to keep tempo or something. It just doesn't work as a drum for a kid because the sound isn't loud enough to hold their attention. I wouldn't even use it myself for anything because their isn't any ring to the sound. I do love the over all design though and would probably get a big one sometime.
445977
I ordered this product from Amazon, and it arrived very quickly.  Packaging was sufficient to the need, though there were no instructions or parts-lists.  This thing is easy enough to put together that it doesn't really matter.

  As far as the item itself, it is obvious that it's only a couple hundred bucks.  The 'ebony' fingerboard is just black-painted wood, so be prepared to polish the heck out of it to get the worst off.  My fingers, even after vigorous wiping and several days of use, still turn a little black by the end of a session.  The strings are pathetically cheap, and the fine tuners just do not want to let go of the strings.  I can thread the string through the gap, but popping it out through the space between the prongs is difficult, and you'll probably just damage the string.  Just go ahead and order new strings and fine-tuners while you're buying this thing.  The body also seems to be a little bit longer than my 4/4 acoustic, which makes finding a comfortable and correct position a bit of a challenge (for those of us of moderate stature), but it's not insurmountable.  On the positive side, it seems very sturdily made.  The crook between the neck and the 'body' is exactly in the shape and location needed so you can find fourth and higher positions.  It's very easy to set up--just set the bridge in the slot and tighten the strings over it.  The sound is quite metalic--as you might expect--but not too bad.  Volume-wise, it is akin to a very heavily muted cello, and perfectly suitable to play and not aggravate the neighbors, even at forte.  It is quite heavy, which is annoying in some ways, but it means I'm much more conscious of when I tighten my left hand and either squeeze the neck, or support it on my thumb.  I'm sure it's not intentional, but it helps me keep an eye on those bad habits we all try to avoid.

  I would have liked to have the arms on the thing on the opposite sides (so that the upper arm on the player's left, so you don't get into bad habits in the thumb postions), but I knew that going in.  I would also have liked to have at least the option of using power from an outlet, but since I'm using this mostly for a) more convenient size for travel and b) quiet compared to an acoustic, I don't actually use the battery much.  Or the 'phones.  No idea what the battery-life is like on it, but you might want to make sure you have extras if you're going to use it a lot through an amp, or something.

  Too bad the Yamahas are so expensive, but if you're looking for a basic, portable, electric cello on a budget, this one will do the job.
4722734
My kids have a program at school where they use these.  Unfornately this product is more of a toy than a real instrument.
2655877
It is a good gift for a young kid because it is built well and sounds pretty good. But for anybody who knows music there is some issues with the keys being out of tune and not staying in pattern. Some of the colors match as octaves, some of them don't. The mallets also work well and are easy to hold. Again it is great for a young kid to have some fun on and learn a little bit from but it is not exactly accurate musically.
1580876
Not functional as an instrument.  But--
It is beautiful. It makes a great table decoration. I might buy another. It would make a great bud vase if you plugged the finger holes.
The workmanship inside where you can't see it easily, isn't good.  Several holes were partially plugged. The blowing lip was not beveled.  (They skipped the final step.)  The result is that it is very difficult to play the low notes, and impossible to play the high notes.
It really isn't a beginner instrument. It really isn't an instrument at all.  But I like how good it looks.
I bought a different brand to play, but display this one.
2357369
Pros:
- it sounds good, even without amplification.
- It isn't so loud that it disturbs the neighbors
- The weight is comparable to that of a traditional violin, so there was no adjustment period.

Cons:
- this item ships with cheap strings. Be prepared to buy a better set.
- this item ships with an un-cut bridge. If you don't understand how to notch it yourself, be prepared to take it to someone who does.
- The pegs slip badly. You will want to buy a better set
- Only the E string has a fine-tuner. You will want to buy them for the other 3 strings.
4894812
It's a good horn don't get me wrong, but not good for serious and well developed players. I bought this purely on the fact that I'm away from home and will be traveling a lot so it does its job for being a cost efficient instrument to keep my chops up. I wouldn't recommend this any player that already knows how to play and is well developed. However, I would recommend this for a beginner player that doesn't quite know what the instrument is supposed to feel like. Overall, good horn, great construct, much better than the cookie cutter ones from China, but not great for serious and developed players, only good for beginners or players that don't play often enough to really care.
4586321
The tube was a bit small...much thinner than any i've played before. The sound isn't great, but it is easy to play, might be a good one for beginners to learn on, but again, sound isn't great.
3265999
I rate this product ok because i am not a very passionate musician whom this product was most likely designed for. I picked up the violin cause it like listening to it so i figured i'd try my hand at it. there are other books that are more "fun" for the not so serious violin player.
3921067
Purchased this recently.  The pluses: (a) a good tone, (b) generally solid construction if you exclude the finish (which does not really affect playability), (c) reasonable set up from Gold Tone, (d) reasonable pickup.  The downsides: (a) there is only one strap button on the body of the instrument rather than the 2 shown in the illustration; (b) the tail piece while functional is a little flimsy - replace with an Allen for improved tone and sustain; (c) bridge is rosewood and not ebony; (d) pickguard is a little flimsy; (e) the finish of the neck is a little rough in places, notably around the inlays and with some of the fret wires (does not affect playability), (f) no tone, EQ or volume controls on the instrument - very simple electronics; and (f) the case is solid but is a poor fit for the instrument, particularly in the area of the neck.  I suspect that the case is really a bog standard F style mandolin case and the Gold Tone Rigel has simply been forced into it.  The body design is a little different than your bog standard F style mando, hence the less than perfect fit.  I was actually surprised about the finish on the neck, particularly with Gold Tone since this has not been a problem for them in the past - usually cosmetic things like neck inlays and excessive glue on fret wires are not a problem.  I was particularly surprised since I also purchased a epiphone mando bird, which is much cheaper (and notably simpler instrument): the finish on the mandobird is superb.

All in all, the instrument is solid and playable with good tone and a reasonable case (despite the fit issues).  I am very surprised and the quality control issues with the finish, the neck inlays and the case (very unlike Gold Tone in the past).  Be aware of the strap button issue.

Instrument is a reasonable compromise between a completely acoustic mando and a fully electronic instrument like the mandobird.

Dollar for dollar, the mandobird is a better instrument in terms of construction, fit and purpose.  However, it is strictly an electronic instrument.
3166093
We bought this for our 12 year old son. His teacher was impressed with the quality of the instrument. He bent the keys. It had to be repaired. Our music shop told us that the brass was pretty soft. This instrument is probably not for the musician that handle his or horn like a pipe wrench. It ought to be good for someone that cares for the horn.
2724400
It is basically a toy. The tone is very breathy and thin, especially in the upper range. It is fairly well in tune with itself, but it is not in concert pitch. So, you can forget playing ensemble or with any tuned accompaniment. I would not recommend for any use other than a shelf trinket or a child's toy. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I am being frank.
837047
This little red Uke from Amazon is a little better than I thought.  Yes it does lose it's tune due to nylon strings, but this is to be expected.  Does not come with a pitch pipe like the tag on it says it does.  Intonation up the neck - ouch.  Not good.  The plywood inside the sound hole came with a split - but a touch of super glue fixed it.  Great instrument for teaching small children and introducing them to a love for making music.
2013320
this is a great kids ukelele but for some one who actually wants to learn i would suggest a different one. the strings do not keep tuned and they have poor sound quality and so i tried changing the strings but other strings don't fit right and still sound funky
1273077
It's a nice, silly instrument.

It's easy to learn, easy to use.

I wouldn't recommend getting this if metallic tastes offend your Wellingtonian sensibilities or something. It goes on your teeth and the flavor of it is definitely getting in your mouth, no ifs ands or buts. I'm not gonna one-star this for you.

The construction seems like it'll come apart at some point in the distant future. Might tack on another star if it holds up through a dozen or so road trips. You can make actual music with this with practice, but most of y'all are use this to drive your constituents up a wall...as am I.
3845651
It's alright as a first guitar... Until the strings break.
The quality of the original strings was terrible. The high e string broke within a week. Then, upon going to someone who really knew something about acoustic guitars, the guitar is really made for nylon strings. Not the steel strings it comes with. Since nylon strings aren't the easiest to put on, we haven't gotten around to getting it restrung.
The craftsmanship wasn't too impressive either. The sound of the guitar itself isn't very full, making it harder to learn on.
In other words, it's more of a toy than a musical instrument. Much like a recorder.