Banjos for Sale

Shop new, used, and vintage banjos for sale, professionally set up and ready to play before they ship. Our specialty is vintage and used resonator banjos, and we’re an authorized dealer for new Gold Tone, Deering, and more. A specialty banjo dealer in Yellow Springs, Ohio, run by Geoff Hohwald and serving players worldwide since 1980.

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$799.99

The Gold Tone CC-100R is the best beginner banjo at this price. Maple neck and rim, rolled brass tone ring, two-way adjustable truss rod, and a convertible resonator that comes off for true openback playing. Part of Gold Tone’s Cripple Creek line, in stock in Yellow Springs, and set up twice before it ships. Choose the build pictured here or Gold Tone’s current one at the same price, just say which in your order notes. Gig bag included.

$8,499.99

A 1988 Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard from the sought-after Greg Rich era. Serial number 1209, among the first hundred of the new model, and signed by Greg Rich on the head and inside the rim. Curly maple neck and resonator, AFP Kulesh tone ring, Gibson Keith tuners, in very good condition from a collector. Set up by our banjo tech Tara and shipped with its original Gibson USA case and a custom Greg Rich pickguard.

$314.99

The Gold Tone AC-1 is an award-winning beginner banjo that weighs under four pounds, thanks to its composite rim and slim, playable neck. Named “Best in Show / MUST Stock” at the 2016 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, it delivers real banjo tone in a durable, travel-friendly package. Openback, with a resonator available separately. Ships with a gig bag and a professional setup from the Gold Tone factory, plus free insured US shipping.

$849.00

The Deering Goodtime Two adds a resonator to the beloved Goodtime platform for more volume and projection. 3-ply violin grade maple rim paired with a 3-ply maple resonator produces a rich, golden bluegrass tone. Art Deco inspired hardwood inlays. US Bronze powder finished flange and hardware. Handcrafted in Spring Valley, California. In stock, with free insured shipping and a professional setup by our banjo tech Tara. No case included. Made in the USA.

$1,299.99

The Gold Tone OB-150 is the most affordable professional-grade bluegrass banjo we carry. Sand-cast 20-hole flat top bell brass tone ring, 3-ply Canadian maple rim, one-piece cast flange, GT planetary tuners, vintage brown satin finish. 11.5 lbs. Hardshell case and Gold Tone's transferable lifetime warranty included. Professionally set up before it ships.

$599.00

The most recommended banjo by banjo teachers. 3-ply violin grade maple rim, Art Deco hardwood inlays, only 4.5 lbs. Handcrafted in Spring Valley, California. $599 with free shipping and professional setup by our banjo tech Tara. Made in the USA. 7-day guarantee.

$1,599.99

1970s/1980s Vintage Japanese Aria Pro II Banjo with hard-shell case. These phenomenal instruments were built during the Golden Age of Japanese banjo building.

$2,499.99

The double-cut headstock, combined with the Hearts-and-Flowers inlay pattern, says it all. The OB-Standard respects the GOAT Bluegrass banjoist, Earl Scruggs, who played this banjo style for many years.

$399.99

The Gold Tone AC-12 is a 12-inch openback 5-string banjo built specifically for old-time and clawhammer players who want a serious instrument without a serious price tag. At just five pounds, it's one of the lightest full-size banjos on the market — perfect for long festival days and casual front-porch sessions alike. Every AC-12 is professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL so it plays beautifully right out of the box.

$499.99

The Gold Tone AC-5 is the lightest resonator banjo we carry at $499.99. Composite rim and resonator deliver full bluegrass volume at just 5.5 lbs. Maple neck, ZeroGlide nut, two-way adjustable truss rod, Terminator tailpiece, Remo head. Professionally set up at Banjo Warehouse in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Includes gig bag.

$1,399.99

A Madison-series resonator banjo with the same 3-ply steam-bent maple rim as the best-selling RK-ELITE-75, plus a pre-war-style bell brass cast tone ring and one-piece flange.

$11,499.99

A 1925 Gibson TB-Granada, FON 8118-22, converted to five-string with a new curly maple neck by Frank Neat. A first-year "Mastertone" with the ball bearing tone ring and shotgun skirt, in excellent condition, with its original tenor neck, original tenor case and the 1927 paperwork from the day it was sold new in San Diego. Ships in a new Superior CD-1530 case.


Why Banjo Warehouse

Geoff has spent more than 50 years buying, selling, playing, and studying banjos. He authored The Banjo Primer, co-designed the Gold Tone OB-12 Top Tension and OB-Standard with Wayne Rogers and Greg Rich, and has personal relationships with the makers and players who define this instrument. Geoff has been a top dealer for brands like Deering, Stelling, and more since the late 1970s. When you call Banjo Warehouse, you're talking to someone who can tell you exactly how a 1932 Gibson flathead compares to a modern Huber or Gold Tone, and why that matters for the music you want to play.

What We Carry

Our inventory spans the full range of serious five-string banjos. We are an authorized dealer for Gold Tone, Deering, Huber, Recording King, OME, Pisgah Banjo Co., ODE and Shelby, which means we sell these brands new, with full factory warranty, and can order any model in the line rather than only what is on the floor.

Recording King, Gold Tone and Deering each span the whole range, from beginner instruments through intermediate models to high end builds. OME and Pisgah start at the intermediate level and go up from there. Huber, ODE and Shelby sit at the top, and Shelby builds to order. We also regularly carry used and vintage banjos from Stelling, Nechville and other respected builders, the instruments professional bluegrass and old-time players rely on night after night.

Our vintage and used inventory is where Geoff's expertise runs deepest. We specialize in prewar Gibson "Mastertone" banjos, the flathead and archtop instruments from the 1920s and 1930s that remain the gold standard in bluegrass, along with postwar Gibsons, tenor conversions, and a rotating selection of collectible instruments from across the decades. Every used instrument is described honestly, including any wear, repairs, or non-original parts.

How We Work

We ship free within the United States via insured FedEx. Banjos we ship from our shop are packed by hand to arrive in tune and ready to play; customers regularly tell us their banjo was still in tune when they opened the case. If for any reason you're not satisfied, you have 7 days to return it. Return shipping is the buyer's responsibility, and refunds are the purchase price less $125 to cover our original shipping cost. Financing is available at checkout through PayPal Pay in 4, and through Afterpay on instruments under $4,000.

We also buy and trade. If you have a banjo you're looking to move, call Geoff directly at 404-218-8580. He pays fair prices and makes the process simple.

Common questions

Are banjos set up before they ship?

Yes. New banjos arrive set up from the factory: Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida; Deering in Spring Valley, California; Recording King at St. Louis Music in St. Louis, Missouri; OME in Titusville, Florida; Huber in Hendersonville, Tennessee; and Pisgah in Fairview, North Carolina. Anything in stock in Yellow Springs is then set up a second time by our banjo tech Tara before it goes in the box, and so is every used and vintage banjo we sell. Some Gold Tone, Huber, Recording King, OME and Pisgah orders ship directly from the distributor with that factory setup. If you would like Tara to set yours up, just say so in your order notes and we will have the instrument come through our shop before it goes to you. More on Gold Tone setup →

Do you buy banjos and take trades?

We do. Call Geoff with what you have and he'll make the process simple and fair.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. US orders ship free via insured FedEx. International shipping is available at competitive rates, so contact us for a quote. Import duties, taxes and customs fees are the buyer’s responsibility. Every purchase has a 7-day return window; return shipping is the buyer’s responsibility and refunds are the purchase price less $125.

New to banjo? Where should I start?

Most beginners do well with an affordable resonator or openback, and our beginner banjos are the shortest path to one. For the method itself, The Banjo Primer is where Geoff starts nearly every beginner, and it comes with video access so you can see and hear every example. Tell us your budget and the music you want to play and we'll point you the right way.
✓ Free U.S. shipping · ✓ 7-day returns · ✓ Professional setup · ✓ Trusted since 1980
★★★★★
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Questions about a banjo? Talk to Geoff directly, not a call center. Call (404) 218-8580