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 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.
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-1 is a lightweight, great-sounding openback banjo built around an innovative composite rim that keeps the total weight under four pounds — making it an ideal first banjo for beginners, kids, and travelers alike. Named 'Best in Show / MUST Stock' at the 2016 Summer NAMM Show, it punches well above its price point. Every AC-1 we ship is professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL before it leaves our door.
I’m excited to offer the Gold Tone AC-1 here at Banjo Warehouse – this is the banjo that won “Best in Show / MUST Stock” at the 2016 Summer NAMM show in Nashville, and for good reason. It’s become one of the most popular beginner and travel banjos on the market, and once you pick [...]
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 before shipping, so it plays great right out of the box.
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-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.
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone AC-1, the award-winning acoustic composite openback banjo that won Best in Show at the 2016 Summer NAMM Show. Weighing under four pounds, it's an ideal first banjo for left-handed beginners, younger players, or anyone who wants a lightweight, travel-friendly instrument that actually sounds great. Every AC-1 is professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL to play comfortably right out of the box.
When I first got my hands on the Gold Tone AC-1, I’ll admit I was curious whether a composite rim could deliver a real banjo sound — and it absolutely does. The molded composite pot produces a warm, focused open-back tone that surprises people every time, and at just over four pounds the whole instrument [...]
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone AC-1, the award-winning beginner banjo that took home "Best in Show / MUST Stock" honors at the 2016 Summer NAMM Show. Weighing under four pounds, it pairs a composite rim with a slim, playable nato neck for a banjo that sounds great, travels easily, and won't wear out a new player's enthusiasm. Professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL, this lefty AC-1 arrives ready to play right out of the gig bag.
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.