Beginner Banjos
Affordable beginner banjos from Gold Tone and Deering, set up and ready to play. Banjo Warehouse is an authorized dealer for both brands in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Every beginner banjo we sell is professionally set up. Your banjo arrives ready to play with free shipping anywhere in the United States.
Not sure what to spend? Our best banjo under $300 guide covers the top starter picks.
Our beginner lineup includes the Gold Tone AC-1 openback (under 4 lbs, winner of “Best in Show” at the 2016 Summer NAMM show), the AC-5 with resonator and armrest for players headed toward bluegrass, and the Cripple Creek CC-100R, one of the most popular beginner banjos ever made with over 25,000 sold worldwide. Not sure which one is right for you? Read our AC-1 vs AC-5 comparison or call Geoff directly at (404) 218-8580.
Not sure where to start? Geoff’s best beginner banjos guide walks through his current picks by budget and style.
Financing available on all orders: PayPal Pay in 4 and Afterpay, with options for 4 interest-free payments or 3, 6, 12, or 24 month plans with no late fees.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Gold Tone AC-5 is the lightest resonator banjo we carry. 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.
The Goodtime Americana is Deering's most affordable 12-inch openback 5-string banjo, made in the USA. The larger 12-inch rim and Renaissance head give it a warm, mellow, old-time voice that suits clawhammer and backing up a song. Set up by hand at The Banjo Warehouse before it ships.
This is a pre-order. Our next left-handed Goodtime is due to arrive from Deering in October 2026. Your payment is fully refundable at any time before it ships.
The left-handed build of the Deering Goodtime, the banjo teachers recommend more than any other: a 3-ply violin grade maple rim, a slim rock maple neck and only 4.5 lbs. Made in Spring Valley, California. Set up by our banjo tech Tara in Yellow Springs before it ships. $599 with free shipping.
The Goodtime Parlor is Deering's short-scale Goodtime: a 23 inch scale and 19 frets on the same 3-ply violin grade maple rim that makes the Goodtime sound so good. Sized for kids, smaller hands and travel, and only about 4 lbs. Made in Spring Valley, California. In stock in Yellow Springs and set up by our banjo tech Tara. $599 with free shipping.
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone AC-1 — the award-winning openback 5-string that won Best in Show at the 2016 Summer NAMM. Weighing under four pounds thanks to its innovative composite rim, it's one of the best-sounding and most playable entry-level banjos on the market, and now southpaw players can enjoy it too. Professionally set up at the Gold Tone factory in Titusville, Florida, so it plays great right out of the box.
The Gold Tone AC-12A is a featherweight 12-inch openback built specifically for old-time clawhammer playing — generous nut width, a proper frailing scoop, and a composite rim that sounds better than it has any right to at this price. At just five pounds, it's the banjo your shoulders will thank you for after a long weekend of festival jamming. Professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL and ready to play the moment it arrives.
The Gold Tone AC-12FL is a purpose-built clawhammer banjo that packs serious old-time credentials into a featherweight five-pound package. A 12-inch composite rim, ZeroGlide nut, frailing scoop, and two-way truss rod give beginners and festival veterans alike everything they need right out of the box. Includes a gig bag and ships to you professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL.