1992 Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard Golden Deluxe

Here at Banjo Warehouse in Yellow Springs, Ohio, we are proud to offer a Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard Golden Deluxe from the heart of the Greg Rich era — and this is the sixth of the model ever built. It carries every quality of the best-selling Earl Scruggs Standard with even more flare: a curly maple neck and resonator in a deep sunburst, gold-plated and engraved hardware throughout, and the full hearts-and-flowers inlay running from the peghead down the ebony fingerboard.

What makes this one special is written right inside it. The Gibson “Mastertone” label reads Earl Scruggs, Model Deluxe, dated 3-13-92, and the maple rim is stamped 92-06 — the sixth instrument of the model, from its very first year of production. Earl Scruggs signed it twice: once on the label inside the rim, and again in marker on the inside of the resonator. It is built the way a professional Gibson “Mastertone” should be, with a hardrock maple three-ply rim, dual coordinator rods, a 20-hole Kulesh tone ring, and the gold engraved “De Luxe” tailpiece and armrest.

The condition is honest for an instrument that is more than thirty years old. There is some tarnish on the gold, exactly what you would expect at this age, and some noticeable wear on the armrest. The frets have been dressed and it plays beautifully. It comes with the original “The Gibson” hardshell case, and before it ships it receives a complete professional setup by our banjo tech Tara.

Watch: Geoff on this Gibson Golden Deluxe

Specifications

Brand	Gibson
Model	Earl Scruggs Standard Golden Deluxe
Year	1992 (Greg Rich era)
Serial	92-06 (label dated 3-13-92)
Neck and resonator	Curly maple, sunburst finish
Fingerboard	Ebony, full hearts-and-flowers inlay
Tone ring	20-hole Kulesh
Rim	Hardrock maple, three-ply
Hardware	Gold-plated and engraved; “De Luxe” tailpiece and armrest
Tuners	Gibson Keith D-tuners on the 3rd and 4th strings; geared 5th-string tuner
Truss rod cover	Earl Scruggs
Coordinator rods	Dual
Spikes	Railroad spikes at the 7th, 9th, and 12th frets (more on request)
Condition	Honest used: some gold tarnish, noticeable armrest wear, frets dressed
Signatures	Earl Scruggs on the interior label and in marker inside the resonator
Handedness	Right-handed
Case	Original “The Gibson” hardshell case
Country of manufacture	United States

Professional setup and our guarantee

Every banjo we sell is professionally set up by our banjo tech Tara before it ships, and backed by our 7-day satisfaction guarantee. Geoff Hohwald is the author of The Banjo Primer, the number one rated beginner banjo method, and has been selling fine banjos since 1980, now based in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Flexible financing is available at checkout, including PayPal Pay in 4 and PayPal’s monthly Pay Later options. Call Geoff at (404) 218-8580 with any questions.

What is the Gibson Earl Scruggs Golden Deluxe?

The Earl Scruggs Golden Deluxe is the upgraded, gold-hardware version of Gibson’s best-selling Earl Scruggs Standard, the model Gibson built to honor the father of three-finger bluegrass banjo. It keeps the Standard’s proven professional build and adds gold-plated and engraved hardware, the fancier hearts-and-flowers inlay, and the presentation-grade “De Luxe” tailpiece and armrest. This example is a Greg Rich-era instrument, from the celebrated period when Greg Rich led Gibson’s banjo production in Nashville.

Why does the serial 92-06 matter?

The rim is stamped 92-06 and the label is dated 3-13-92. That makes this the sixth example of the model built, from the very first year of its production run. First-year, low-number instruments like this are the ones collectors and players look for, and the twin Earl Scruggs signatures inside make it a documented piece.

What is a Kulesh tone ring?

The tone ring is the heavy bell-bronze casting that sits under the head and gives a bluegrass banjo its bark and projection. This banjo is fitted with a 20-hole Kulesh tone ring, a well-regarded ring choice among serious bluegrass players. Paired with the hardrock maple three-ply rim and dual coordinator rods, it delivers the powerful, cutting voice a professional Gibson “Mastertone” is known for.

Is it ready to play out of bluegrass keys?

Yes. It has Gibson Keith D-tuners on the third and fourth strings for smooth, in-tune D-tuning changes, and railroad spikes at the 7th, 9th, and 12th frets so you can capo into common keys. We are happy to add more spikes if you would like before it ships, and every banjo we sell gets a complete professional setup by our banjo tech Tara.

What condition is it in, and what comes with it?

It is in honest used condition for an instrument over thirty years old. Expect some tarnish on the gold and some noticeable wear on the armrest; the frets have been dressed and it plays beautifully. It is right-handed, made in the USA, and includes the original “The Gibson” hardshell case. If you would like any specific measurement, just give us a call at (404) 218-8580 or email thebanjowarehouse@gmail.com.