Gold Tone BU-1 Concert-Scale Banjo Ukulele with Gig Bag

If you’ve been curious about the banjo ukulele — that irresistibly bright, punchy little instrument that somehow sounds like a banjo and a ukulele had the best possible argument — the Gold Tone BU-1 is the place to start. At this price, nothing else on the market gives you a factory-installed Hot Dot pickup alongside a genuine Remo Fiberskyn head, a hard maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and Gold Tone’s own patented Zero Glide nut, all wrapped up in a vintage brown satin finish with cream ABS binding. It’s a genuinely complete instrument, not a toy, and it comes with a padded gig bag so you’re ready to walk out the door and play. Whether you’re a ukulele player who wants that distinctive banjo snap, a banjo player looking for something compact and travel-friendly, or someone just starting their string instrument journey, the BU-1 earns its place in a serious player’s collection.

The 8-inch multi-ply maple rim is crowned with a Remo LC Fiberskyn head — the same head material you’ll find on much pricier instruments — and the rolled brass flat bar tension hoop keeps everything dialed in with consistent downward pressure across all 12 brackets. The vintage-style tailpiece gives the instrument a classic look that matches its warm-but-bright voice. At a concert scale of 15-5/8″, the neck sits right in the sweet spot for comfortable fingering without feeling cramped. The Zero Glide nut is one of my favorite small details Gold Tone includes at this price: it functions like a zero fret, meaning open strings ring with the same tone and sustain as fretted ones — a genuinely useful upgrade that most manufacturers reserve for instruments costing twice as much. And that built-in Hot Dot pickup means you can plug straight into a PA or small amplifier without any modification, which makes the BU-1 a legitimate gigging instrument right out of the box.

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 every instrument we sell comes with the full manufacturer warranty and you’re buying from a source Gold Tone trusts. I’ve been in the banjo and string instrument business for over 45 years — I co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, wrote Banjo Primer (the top-rated beginner banjo method on the market), and I co-designed the OB-Standard with Gold Tone — so when I say the BU-1 is a genuinely good instrument for the money, I’m saying that as someone who has played and evaluated thousands of banjos and banjo-adjacent instruments over decades. We carry Gold Tone because we believe in what they build, and we set up every instrument because we believe you deserve to play something that feels right from the first note. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — no late fees. Pick the option that works for you and start playing.

Gold Tone BU-1 Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any experience playing ukulele or banjo to start with the BU-1?

Not at all. The BU-1 is genuinely beginner-friendly — the concert scale is comfortable for most hand sizes, the action comes set up and playable right out of the box, and standard GCEA tuning means any chord chart or tutorial written for ukulele will work directly on this instrument. If you already play ukulele, you’ll adapt instantly. If you’re brand new to both, this is an approachable and forgiving place to start.

Can I really use this as a gigging instrument, or is the pickup just a gimmick?

The Hot Dot pickup Gold Tone installs in the BU-1 is a legitimate under-head pickup system — it’s not an afterthought. Plug it into any acoustic amplifier, DI box, or PA system and you’ll get a usable, natural-sounding amplified signal. It’s not a boutique pickup, but for open mics, small venues, or practice with a band, it does exactly what you need it to do. The fact that it’s included at this price point is genuinely unusual and one of the reasons the BU-1 stands out in its category.

Is the BU-1 available as a left-handed model?

Yes — Gold Tone does offer a left-handed version of the BU-1. If you need a left-handed model, please contact us directly and we’ll help you get the right instrument ordered.

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