Gold Tone AC-4P Acoustic Composite 4-String Openback Plectrum Banjo with Gig Bag

If you’ve been curious about the plectrum banjo — the four-string, longer-scale cousin of the tenor that powered so much of early jazz and classic banjo repertoire — the Gold Tone AC-4P is one of the most honest entry points I’ve seen at this price. At just 3.5 pounds, with a composite rim and a clean black satin finish, it has that satisfying “plunky” vintage character that makes plectrum playing so addictive, without any of the weight or cost that can put newcomers off. The standard CGBD tuning is ready to go right out of the box, so whether you’re coming from guitar, moving over from a five-string, or picking up a banjo for the very first time, you can be playing real songs the same day it arrives.

Gold Tone put genuine thought into every detail here. The nato neck is comfortable and stable, reinforced with a two-way adjustable truss rod that gives you real long-term control over the setup. A ZeroGlide nut at 1-3/16″ keeps open strings in tune with fretted notes — a feature you simply don’t expect at this price point. The rosewood fingerboard has 22 frets with clean dot inlays, the 11″ Remo head is already broken in with a smooth surface that suits the plectrum attack beautifully, and the vintage-style tailpiece adds a touch of classic aesthetics that matches the tone. Sixteen brackets, a flat bar tension hoop, and an ebony-capped maple bridge round out a specification sheet that punches well above its MSRP. I’ve spent more than 45 years evaluating entry-level banjos, and Gold Tone consistently delivers more instrument per dollar than anyone else in this segment — the AC-4P is a fine example of that.

Every AC-4P receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships: they check and dress the fret ends, set the bridge position for accurate intonation, adjust the head tension for optimal tone, and set the action to a comfortable playing height. It arrives genuinely playable, not just assembled.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell is covered by Gold Tone’s full factory warranty and backed by our own customer service. I’m Geoff Hohwald — I’ve been in the banjo business since the late 1970s, co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, and wrote Banjo Primer, the top-rated beginner banjo method on the market. I co-designed the Gold Tone OB-Standard alongside the Gold Tone team, so when I say I know these instruments, I mean it from the inside out. We carry Gold Tone because they build the best value instruments available, full stop. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month plans — no late fees, so you can get playing now and pay on your own schedule.

Gold Tone AC-4P Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a plectrum banjo and how is it different from a tenor banjo?

A plectrum banjo is a four-string, open-back banjo played with a flat pick (plectrum), tuned CGBD — the same as the top four strings of a guitar. The main difference from a tenor banjo is scale length: the AC-4P’s 26 1/8″ scale is noticeably longer than a typical tenor’s 23″ scale, which gives it a fuller, slightly warmer tone and makes it the traditional choice for classic banjo and Dixieland jazz styles. If you already play guitar, you’ll find the chord shapes immediately familiar.

Is the Gold Tone AC-4P a good first banjo?

Absolutely, and it’s worth understanding why. A lot of “beginner” banjos at this price are frustrating to play because they ship with high action, poorly cut nuts, and mediocre heads. The AC-4P avoids those pitfalls with the ZeroGlide nut, an adjustable truss rod, and a proper Remo head — and it receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone before shipping, so you’re not fighting the instrument when you should be learning to play it. For anyone new to the plectrum style specifically, it’s a genuinely good starting point.

Want to know when new banjos arrive? Join our email list: Sign up here.

Videos