Gold Tone Banjos
Gold Tone makes very good to excellent banjos of virtually every type, and holds the highest standards for every instrument they build. They care about their customers and back every banjo fully.
The Gold Tone range covers bluegrass and 4-string banjos, openback and clawhammer banjos, electric banjos, banjitars, mini travel banjos, a 5-string spruce-top Banjola, and even a Béla Fleck signature banjo.
New to the brand? Read our Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Gold Tone Banjo.
The Gold Tone AC-1 is an award-winning beginner banjo that weighs under four pounds, thanks to its innovative 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. It ships with a gig bag and a professional setup by our banjo tech Tara at Banjo Warehouse.
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.
The fretless version of Gold Tone's best-selling AC-1: same lightweight 11-inch composite openback, with a fretless neck for old-time and clawhammer playing. Aquila Nylgut strings, under 4 lbs, gig bag included.
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.
The Gold Tone AC-1 is a lightweight, great-sounding openback banjo built around an innovative composite rim that keeps the whole instrument under four pounds — making it an ideal first banjo, travel companion, or starter instrument for a younger player. Named "Best in Show / MUST Stock" at the 2016 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, it punches well above its price point. Every AC-1 we ship has been professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL so it plays its best right out of the box.
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-4 is an openback Irish tenor banjo built around a lightweight composite rim that delivers a warm, mellow, plunky tone well-suited to Irish traditional music, folk, and beyond. With a rosewood fingerboard, ZeroGlide nut, and a comfortable nato neck, it offers genuine playability at an accessible price point. Every AC-4 arrives professionally set up by Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida, and includes a gig bag so you're ready to play right out of the box.
The Gold Tone AC-4 IT is a 4-string openback Irish tenor banjo built for the GDAE tuning that Irish session players use. Its lightweight composite rim and slim, fast neck make it easy to play and easy to carry, while the ZeroGlide nut keeps it in tune from the first fret to the last. At just 3.5 pounds it is a natural for travel and for new tenor players. Professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL and shipped with a gig bag.
The Gold Tone AC-4P is a lightweight, open-back plectrum banjo built for players who want a genuine, playable instrument without breaking the bank. Its 26 1/8" scale length and CGBD tuning make it the natural choice for jazz, classic banjo, and folk styles, and the composite rim delivers a warm, "plunky" vintage tone that feels right at home in any of those genres. A deluxe gig bag is included, and every AC-4P is professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL and ready to play.