Gold Tone makes some of the best banjos for beginners, intermediate players, and professionals. This guide will help you find the right Gold Tone banjo for your playing style and budget.
Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Owner Geoff Hohwald has known Gold Tone founder Wayne Rogers for decades and collaborated with him on the design of both the OB-12 Top Tension banjo and the OB-Standard. When you buy a Gold Tone from us, every instrument is professionally set up by our banjo tech Tara before it ships.
A Brief History of Gold Tone Banjos
Gold Tone was founded in 1993 by Wayne and Robyn Rogers in Titusville, Florida. Their goal was to build quality banjos at prices working musicians could afford. Over thirty years later, Gold Tone has become one of the most respected banjo manufacturers in the country, with a lineup spanning beginner instruments to professional-grade Orange Blossom Mastertones.
Gold Tone has consistently pushed the boundaries of banjo design, introducing models like the OB-12 Top Tension, the Greg Rich series, and a wide range of specialty instruments including banjo-ukuleles, cello banjos, bass banjos, and long-neck models. Notable specialty models include the Gold Tone ResoUke, the GM-50+ Mandolin, and the M-BassFL MicroBass.
Types of Banjos Offered by Gold Tone
Gold Tone offers an extensive range covering open-back models, resonator banjos, banjo-ukuleles, and specialty instruments.
Open-Back Banjos
Open-back banjos have no resonator, resulting in a lighter, mellower instrument well-suited for old-time music and clawhammer playing. Notable models include the BC-350, the AC-1 (an affordable all-composite open-back ideal for beginners and travel), and the WR-7 Banjitar.
Resonator Banjos
Resonator banjos have a closed back that projects sound forward, producing a louder, brighter tone suited for bluegrass and Scruggs-style picking. The lineup runs from beginner models like the CC-100R to professional Orange Blossom Mastertones like the OB-2, OB-3, and OB-3+.
Banjo-Ukuleles
Banjo-ukuleles combine a ukulele body with banjo tone and are tuned like a ukulele. Gold Tone offers several models including the BUS.
Specialty and Hybrid Banjos
Gold Tone’s specialty lineup includes the M-Bass (micro-scale bass banjo), the CEB-4 (cello banjo tuned an octave below standard), and the WR-7 Banjitar (7-string with doubled low E for a drone effect). Long-neck models like the OT-800 LN add extra frets for alternate tunings.
Components of a Gold Tone Banjo
Gold Tone banjos are built with carefully selected materials that affect tone, playability, and durability.
Tonewoods
Maple is dense and hard, offering excellent projection and a bright, crisp sound. Used on models like the OB-250+ TP and CC-100R. Mahogany produces a warmer, mellower tone and is featured on the OB-2JM and OB-3. Walnut sits between the two with a balanced, full tone, featured on the OT-800.
Banjo Heads
Fiberskyn heads replicate traditional calfskin and produce a warm, vintage tone. Found on old-time models like the OT-800. Clear Mylar heads provide bright, crisp tone with more projection. Found on most bluegrass resonator models. Frosted heads are common on professional models and reduce brightness slightly compared to clear heads.
Tone Rings
The tone ring is one of the most important factors in a banjo’s voice. Entry-level Gold Tone models use rolled brass rings. Mid-range and professional models use cast bronze rings. The OB-3+ uses the JLS sand-cast bell-bronze flathead tone ring, one of the finest modern flathead rings available and the same ring found in the OME Ikon.
How to Choose a Gold Tone Banjo
Playing Style
For clawhammer and old-time playing, you want an open-back banjo with a mellower tone. The BC-350 and OT-800 are well-suited for this style. For bluegrass and Scruggs-style three-finger picking, you want a resonator banjo with a bright, cutting tone. The CC-100R is the right starting point for beginners. Serious players move up to the OB-250+ TP or the OB-3+.
Budget
Entry-level instruments ($300 to $599) include the CC-100R and OB-150+. Mid-range ($599 to $1,500) includes the OB-2 and OB-3. Professional ($1,500 and up) includes the OB-3+, OB-12, and Greg Rich series. All instruments over $1,000 qualify for PayPal Pay in 4 or Afterpay on our website, or Affirm on Reverb.
Getting Personal Advice
Not sure which Gold Tone is right for you? Call Geoff directly at (404) 218-8580. He has known Gold Tone founder Wayne Rogers for decades and can point you to exactly the right instrument for your needs and budget.
Popular Gold Tone Banjo Models
Gold Tone CC-100R — The best entry-level bluegrass banjo available. Maple neck with two-way adjustable truss rod, separate rosewood fretboard, maple rim with twin coordinator rods, and a removable resonator for open-back playing. Our most recommended starting point for new players.
Gold Tone OB-150+ — Prewar-style construction with a three-ply maple rim, one-piece flange, upgraded JLS tone ring, and Gold Tone’s lifetime transferable warranty. Professional construction at an intermediate price.
Gold Tone OB-3 — Gold Tone’s recreation of JD Crowe’s original Gibson RB-3. Mahogany neck and resonator, prewar-style headstock and measurements. The platform Bela Fleck used as the starting point for his Bluegrass Heart signature model.
Gold Tone OB-3+ — The OB-3 upgraded with the JLS sand-cast bell-bronze flathead tone ring. A Banjo Warehouse exclusive configuration at $2,599.99. One of the best values in professional bluegrass banjos.
Gold Tone OB-Standard — Double-cut headstock with Hearts-and-Flowers inlay, a nod to Earl Scruggs’ playing style. Professional instrument at a mid-range price.
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Accessories for Your Gold Tone Banjo
Cases and Gig Bags: Most Gold Tone banjos include a case or gig bag. Call to confirm what’s included with your specific model before ordering.
Straps, Picks, and Capos: Finger picks, thumb picks, banjo straps, and capos are all worth having. Call Geoff at 404-218-8580 for recommendations specific to your instrument.
Bridges and Strings: Every banjo we set up ships with a Huber maple and ebony bridge and Huber strings. If you want to upgrade the bridge on a banjo you already own, order one directly from Steve Huber at huberbanjos.com for $30.
Instructional Materials:
Gold Tone endorses The Banjo Primer by Geoff Hohwald as the starting point for new players. Over 200,000 copies sold. Geoff also offers in-person and virtual lessons. Call him at 404-218-8580.
Want to know when new Gold Tone banjos arrive? Join our email list and be the first to know.
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Why Buy a Gold Tone from Banjo Warehouse?
Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Geoff Hohwald has known Gold Tone founder Wayne Rogers for decades, collaborated with Wayne and Greg Rich on the design of the Gold Tone OB-12 Top Tension banjo, and collaborated with Wayne on the OB-Standard. Every Gold Tone we sell ships with a professional setup by our banjo tech Tara, free US shipping, and Gold Tone’s lifetime transferable warranty.
Call Geoff directly at (404) 218-8580 for help choosing the right Gold Tone for your playing style, skill level, and budget.
Glossary of Banjo Terms
Archtop: A tone ring design with a crowned profile, producing a brighter, more focused sound. Think Ralph Stanley instead of Earl Scruggs.
Armrest: A metal component attached to the tension hoop providing a comfortable resting place for the player’s arm.
Banjo head: The drum-like surface of the banjo, typically made from plastic or Fiberskyn, which vibrates to produce sound.
Bracket: A metal component used to secure and tension the banjo head to the rim.
Bridge: A wooden piece that supports the strings and transfers their vibrations to the banjo head. Bridge quality significantly affects tone. Banjo Warehouse uses Huber bridges on every setup.
Capo: A device that clamps onto the banjo neck to raise string pitch, allowing play in different keys without retuning.
Clawhammer: A traditional playing style using a down-picking motion, typically used for old-time music.
Coordinator rod: A metal rod through the pot assembly providing structural support and enabling neck angle and action adjustments.
D-tuners: Special tuning pegs allowing quick pitch changes on a string, commonly used in bluegrass.
Fingerboard: The flat wooden surface on the neck where the player presses strings to create notes.
Fingerpicks: Small curved picks worn on the player’s fingers, used in bluegrass and fingerpicking styles.
Flange: A metal component connecting the resonator to the rim, providing structural support and aiding projection.
Flathead: A tone ring design where the ring sits flat against the rim, producing the warm, sustained tone Earl Scruggs made famous.
Frets: Metal bars embedded in the fingerboard that allow the player to produce different notes.
Headstock: The top of the banjo neck, housing the tuning pegs.
Hooks: Metal pieces that attach the tension hoop to the brackets, allowing head tension adjustment.
Inlays: Decorative designs in the fingerboard or headstock, usually mother-of-pearl or abalone.
JLS tone ring: A sand-cast bell-bronze flathead tone ring made by Jim Stull in the USA, known for deep low-end response and prewar bark. Found in the OB-3+, OB-150+, and OME Ikon.
Nut: A small grooved piece at the junction of neck and headstock maintaining proper string spacing and height.
Open-back: A banjo without a resonator, producing a mellower, more open sound.
Planetary tuners: High-quality tuning pegs with a gear system for smooth, precise tuning.
Pot: The round body of the banjo, consisting of rim, tone ring, head, tension hoop, and hardware.
Resonator: A wooden attachment on the back of a banjo that reflects sound forward, increasing volume and projection.
Rim: The circular wooden component forming the core of the banjo’s pot.
Scruggs style: A three-finger picking style popularized by Earl Scruggs, the foundation of bluegrass banjo playing.
Tailpiece: A metal component anchoring the strings at the end of the banjo.
Tension hoop: A metal ring atop the banjo head, securing it to the rim.
Tone ring: A metal component atop the rim that is one of the primary factors in a banjo’s voice.
Truss rod: A metal rod inside the neck allowing adjustment of the neck’s curvature.
Tuning pegs: Devices on the headstock used to adjust string tension and pitch.
Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer. Every Gold Tone banjo we sell includes free US shipping, professional setup by our banjo tech Tara, and Gold Tone’s lifetime transferable warranty. Financing available: PayPal Pay in 4 or Afterpay on our website, Affirm on Reverb.