Gold Tone Banjola+S Woodbody Banjo with Pickup and Bag

There are hybrid instruments, and then there is the Gold Tone Banjola+S — a genuinely singular voice that belongs in every serious player’s tonal toolkit. Born from the marriage of the mandola (the viola-range member of the mandolin family) and the five-string banjo, the Banjola+S occupies a warm, mid-range sonic space that no standard banjo or guitar can touch. The solid spruce top captures every nuance of your attack and channels it through a moveable ebony bridge, producing a sound that is resonant, articulate, and deeply expressive — ideal for fills, solos, ballads, and instrumental color work across folk, Americana, Celtic, and beyond. At just four pounds, it sits effortlessly on the knee and responds with surprising ease under the fingers, making long playing sessions a genuine pleasure.

Construction details on the Banjola+S speak to real craftsmanship. The curly stained maple back and sides are bound in white ABS at both top and back, while the comfortable curly maple neck carries a bound rosewood fretboard dressed with 22 frets and dot-with-shooting-star inlays. A two-way adjustable truss rod gives you long-term neck stability across changing seasons and climates. Gold Tone’s planetary-gear tuners hold pitch reliably, bone nut and bridge saddle materials maximize tonal transfer, and the chrome-plated vintage-style tailpiece with cover adds a touch of classic elegance. The included passive bridge-mounted transducer pickup means you can plug straight into a PA or acoustic amp without sacrificing the instrument’s natural voice — no batteries, no fuss. The “S” variant ships with a scooped fretboard that gives clawhammer and old-time players room to work, the feature that sets the +S apart from the standard Banjola+.

Your Banjola+S ships factory-fresh directly from Gold Tone, where every instrument receives a professional setup at their Titusville, Florida shop before it leaves the building. As an authorized Gold Tone dealer, we back this instrument with the full manufacturer warranty, and our team is here for you before and after the sale — whether you have questions about setup adjustments, strings, or accessories. A gig bag is included with this instrument.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means the Banjola+S you receive is a genuine, brand-new instrument backed by the full Gold Tone manufacturer warranty. The shop is run by Geoff Hohwald, author of the Banjo Primer and co-designer of the Gold Tone OB-Standard, with over 45 years in the banjo world — so when our team talks about tone, construction, and playability, it comes from decades of hands-on experience. We are happy to answer your questions before you buy and to help you dial in the instrument after it arrives. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — all with no late fees — so you can bring this unique instrument home on your own terms.

Gold Tone Banjola+S Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the “S” in Banjola+S mean, and do I need a scoop?

The “S” designates the scoop model — the upper bout of the fretboard is relieved (scooped away) beneath the highest frets, allowing your picking or strumming hand to rest in a more natural position while your fretting hand reaches the upper register without the body getting in the way. Players who spend time above the 15th fret or who prefer a lower hand angle tend to appreciate the scoop. If you are unsure whether it suits your style, feel free to reach out to our team and we will help you think it through.

How does the passive pickup work, and what do I plug it into?

The Banjola+S uses a passive bridge-mounted transducer pickup — no battery required. It outputs a standard 1/4″ signal that you can run directly into an acoustic-friendly amp, a PA system with a DI box, or an acoustic preamp pedal. Because it is passive, the signal is on the quieter side, so a preamp or a channel with good gain headroom will give you the cleanest results. Many players also find that a simple acoustic guitar amp brings out the warm, woody character of the solid spruce top beautifully.

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