Gold Tone BT-1000 6-String Banjitar with Pickup and Bag

If you’re a guitarist who’s been curious about the banjo’s bright, cutting voice but not ready to abandon the familiar feel of a guitar neck, the Gold Tone BT-1000 is built exactly for you. Tuned standard EADGBE and scaled at 25-1/2″—right in the sweet spot of a standard guitar—it lets you play every lick, chord, and song you already know while that 12-inch maple rim and rolled brass flat bar tone ring hand you a whole new sonic personality. The SMP+ pickup system is wired in and ready to go, so you can plug straight into a PA, amp, or DI at your next gig without any modifications. This is not a novelty instrument; it’s a serious stage and studio tool.

The BT-1000’s construction details tell you Gold Tone thought carefully about the guitarist who’s stepping into this world. The radiused rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays feels natural under your fingers if you’ve spent years on a guitar. The ZeroGlide nut keeps open strings in tune with fretted notes, which matters enormously when you’re playing chords. Twenty-one frets give you plenty of range. The maple neck has a two-way adjustable truss rod so the action can be dialed in properly. Chrome hardware, black ABS binding, a Remo LC Renaissance head, dual 12-inch coordinator rods, and a Terminator tailpiece round out a package that’s thoughtfully spec’d from headstock to tailpiece. The included gig bag means you’re ready to move with it the day it arrives.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means your BT-1000 comes with the full manufacturer’s warranty and you’re buying from a shop that Gold Tone stands behind. I’m Geoff Hohwald—I’ve been in the banjo world for over 45 years, co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, and wrote Banjo Primer, the top-rated beginner banjo method. I co-designed the Gold Tone OB-Standard, so I have a working relationship with the Gold Tone team that goes well beyond just selling their instruments. When you call or email us with a question, you’re talking to people who actually play and understand these instruments. We offer flexible financing through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans—all with no late fees—so you can get the instrument you actually want without waiting.

Gold Tone BT-1000 Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know how to play banjo to get started on the BT-1000?

Not at all—that’s one of the best things about the BT-1000. It’s tuned EADGBE, exactly like a standard guitar, so if you already play guitar you can pick it up and play immediately. You get the banjo’s bright, punchy tone without learning a new tuning or new chord shapes. That said, if you do want to explore actual banjo techniques over time, the 6-string format is a great gateway into that world.

Is the SMP+ pickup system passive or active, and what does it plug into?

The SMP+ is a passive undersaddle-style pickup system, so it doesn’t require a battery. It outputs a standard 1/4-inch signal that plugs directly into any guitar amp, acoustic amp, PA system, or DI box. It works well for live performance and recording without needing any additional preamp, though running it through an acoustic preamp or DI with EQ can help you shape the tone further if you want more control over your amplified sound.

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