Gold Tone AC-5+1 Acoustic Composite 6-String Banjo with Gig Bag

There are instruments you’ve always been curious about but never quite justified buying — the Gold Tone AC-5+1 is Gold Tone’s answer to exactly that feeling. This is a genuine “six-string five-string” banjo, tuned gGDGBD: your familiar five-string open G tuning (GDGBD) with an added low G string below it. That extra bass string opens up chord voicings, melodic runs, and compositional ideas that simply aren’t available on a standard five-string, and it does so at a price point that makes the experiment genuinely risk-free. If you’ve ever been intrigued by the sonic territory Gold Tone explored with their discontinued Lojo banjo but weren’t ready to make a significant investment in a specialty instrument, the AC-5+1 is the instrument that was designed specifically for you.

Like every banjo in Gold Tone’s AC series, the AC-5+1 is built around a 12-inch composite rim and resonator — a material choice that gives you surprising liveliness and projection while also being exceptionally stable across temperature and humidity changes. The nato neck carries a rosewood fingerboard with dot-and-star inlays, 18 frets, and a two-way adjustable truss rod, so the neck stays exactly where you set it. A ZeroGlide nut at 1-3/4″ width keeps intonation honest all the way up the neck, and Gold Tone’s planetary tuners hold pitch reliably — important when you’ve got six strings to keep in tune. The maple bridge with ebony cap, Remo LC Renaissance head, vintage tailpiece, and chrome hardware round out a package that punches well above its price. The satin black finish gives it a clean, understated look that feels right at home on a stage or at a jam.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. At this price point, a proper setup makes an enormous difference in playability, and they take that seriously for every instrument that ships.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every AC-5+1 we sell comes with full manufacturer warranty support and you’re never dealing in grey-market inventory. We offer flexible financing through PayPal Pay in 4 and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — all with no late fees, plus Afterpay — so getting this banjo in your hands today is easier than you might think.

Gold Tone AC-5+1 Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need special picks or technique to play the AC-5+1, or can I approach it like a standard five-string?

You can absolutely approach the AC-5+1 with standard five-string technique — Scruggs-style rolls, clawhammer, melodic, whatever you play now will still work fine on strings 2 through 6. The added low G string (the sixth, lowest-pitched string) is there when you want it for bass runs, chord fills, and extended melodic ideas. Most players just incorporate it gradually as they get comfortable with where it sits. There’s no mandatory technique change; it’s more about expanding what you already do.

Is a 26-3/16″ scale length comfortable for players used to a standard 5-string banjo?

Yes — a standard five-string banjo typically runs around 26-1/4″ to 26-3/8″, so the AC-5+1’s 26-3/16″ scale is right in the familiar range. The 1-3/4″ nut width is also standard, so the string spacing won’t feel foreign. The main physical difference you’ll notice is simply that there are six tuners on the headstock and six strings under your picking hand, not five — but the feel of the neck itself is very close to what five-string players already know.

What does the composite rim actually sound like compared to a wood rim?

Composite rims in Gold Tone’s AC series are livelier and more resonant than you might expect from the price point, with a slightly warmer, rounder character compared to a bright maple pot. They’re also extremely stable — they don’t swell or contract with humidity the way wood does, which means your setup stays consistent. For a banjo you might take camping, travel with, or leave in a car overnight, that stability is a real practical advantage alongside the tonal qualities.

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