Gold Tone AC-5/L Acoustic Composite 5-String Banjo Left-Handed with Gig Bag

This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone AC-5, and we want to be upfront about that right from the start — if you play right-handed, you’ll want the standard AC-5 instead. For left-handed players, finding a quality beginner banjo built specifically for you has historically meant either a long wait or a significant upcharge. The AC-5/L changes that. Gold Tone engineered this instrument from the ground up as a genuine bluegrass banjo at a price that removes every excuse not to start playing. The modern composite rim and matching composite resonator back are the real story here: lightweight, stiff, and dimensionally stable in a way that wood can sometimes struggle to be — especially at this price point. The result is a banjo that produces a genuinely satisfying fourth-string bark and clear, singing high notes. This isn’t a toy or a decoration; it’s a real instrument.

Geoff Hohwald has been in this industry over 45 years and has seen a lot of beginner banjos come and go. Most of them had at least one thing seriously wrong — a neck that fought you, tuners that slipped, or a head so far out of adjustment the instrument was nearly unplayable out of the box. The AC-5/L avoids all of those pitfalls. The maple neck with its two-way adjustable truss rod gives you long-term stability and the ability to dial in action as you develop your playing. The ZeroGlide nut at 1-3/16″ keeps the nut slots properly cut and the open strings in tune — a detail that’s usually reserved for instruments costing twice as much. Covered guitar-style tuners may not look as flashy as planetary pegs, but they hold reliably and are easy to operate. The 11″ Remo LC Coated head is the same brand professional players trust, and the Terminator tailpiece lets you fine-tune break angle and tone as your ear develops. Whether this is your first banjo, a travel instrument, or a banjo you’re buying for a younger family member, the AC-5/L delivers.

Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships. The head tension is set, the coordinator rod is adjusted, the bridge is fitted for proper intonation, and the action is set at the nut and the 12th fret to ensure every string plays cleanly up and down the neck. Then we set it up a second time here in Yellow Springs, Ohio before it goes out to you. Two professional setups at this price is unusual, and on a beginner instrument it is the difference between a banjo that encourages you and one that fights you.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every AC-5/L we sell carries Gold Tone’s five-year transferable warranty and is a genuine, current-production instrument — not a gray-market or diverted unit. Financing is available: PayPal Pay in 4 on any order, and Afterpay as well, so the price is never a reason to wait on learning to play.

Gold Tone AC-5/L Specifications

Handedness	Left-Handed
Nut Width	1-3/16″ ZeroGlide Nut
Tuners	Covered Guitar-Style
Neck Material	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Frets	22
Inlay	Dot
Truss Rod	Two-Way Adjustable
Rim	11″ Composite
Resonator	13″ Composite
Head	11″ Remo LC Coated Topside
Bridge	Maple with Ebony Cap
Tailpiece	Terminator
Tension Hoop	11″ Flat Bar
Brackets	16
Coordinator Rods	Single 11″
Binding	Black ABS
Armrest	Fits All GT Engraved
Hardware Finish	Chrome Plated
Body Finish	Natural / Satin
Scale Length	26-3/16″
Weight	5.5 lbs.
String Gauge	.011, .024w, .016, .013, .011
Tuning	G D G B D
Gig Bag	Included (Padded)
Optional Hard Case	HD15M
Warranty	Five Years, Transferable

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the AC-5/L a true left-handed banjo, or just a regular banjo with the strings flipped?

It’s a true left-handed instrument. Gold Tone builds the AC-5/L specifically for left-handed players — the neck, headstock, and overall geometry are all oriented correctly for left-hand playing. You’re not getting a modified right-handed banjo; you’re getting an instrument designed to be played the way you naturally hold it.

Is the composite rim a drawback compared to a wood rim at this price?

Not at all — and honestly, for a beginner instrument it’s an advantage. Composite is dimensionally stable, meaning it won’t swell, shrink, or warp the way wood can in changing humidity and temperature. That stability helps keep your setup consistent over time. The tone is punchy and clear, and Geoff has played these back-to-back with entry-level wood-rim banjos in the same price range. The AC-5 holds its own easily.

Does this banjo come ready to play?

Yes, and twice over. Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships to us. Head tension, bridge placement, nut slot height, and action are all properly addressed. Then we set it up again here in Yellow Springs before it ships to you, because a banjo that has been in a box and on a truck is not always in the same shape it left the factory in. It arrives genuinely playable right out of the box, and at this price that kind of attention is unusual. We think it makes a real difference in how quickly a new player can progress.

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