Gold Tone BZ-500 Irish Bouzouki Mandolin with Pickup and Case

The Irish bouzouki occupies a fascinating place in folk music history, and the Gold Tone BZ-500 is one of the finest entry points into that world I’ve come across at this price. The story begins in 1969 when Irish musician Dónal Lunny received a Greek bouzouki from a friend, reversed the strings to accommodate his left-handed playing, and mounted them in unison pairs — fundamentally reshaping the instrument’s voice. By 1972, Lunny had popularized this modified bouzouki through his legendary band Planxty, and the Irish bouzouki (sometimes called a cittern) became woven into the DNA of Celtic folk music. The BZ-500 honors that tradition directly: it ships strung with octave pairs on the third and fourth courses and unison pairs on the first and second, giving you that dramatic, layered shimmer that defines the instrument’s character. The tuning out of the box is GGDDAADD, but this instrument is equally at home in GDAD, GDAE, ADAD, or CFAD — the BZ-500 is genuinely versatile in a way that rewards exploration.

Tonally, the BZ-500 punches well above its price point. The solid spruce top — not laminate — gives the instrument real resonance and a clarity that opens up as the wood breaks in over time. Paired with mahogany back and sides, you get a warm but articulate mid-range that sits beautifully in a session mix without fighting for space with fiddles and flutes. The rosewood fingerboard has 23 frets with snowflake inlays, the neck is mahogany with a two-way adjustable truss rod, and the 26-1/4″ scale length feels familiar if you’ve spent any time with a guitar. The ZeroGlide nut at 1-3/8″ keeps intonation accurate right off the bat. For players who want to amplify — whether for stage use or home recording — the included Chopper Mandolin Bridge Pickup is a thoughtful addition that preserves the acoustic character of the instrument rather than coloring it. Sealed guitar-style tuners and chrome-plated hardware round out a package that is genuinely complete: instrument, pickup, and hard shell case, all included.

Every BZ-500 receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships. They check the action at the nut and saddle, adjust the truss rod if needed, verify intonation across the courses, and make sure the instrument plays in tune and feels right under the fingers. This is the kind of setup that typically costs $80–$120 at a music shop, and it’s included with your purchase at no additional charge.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every BZ-500 we sell comes with the full manufacturer’s warranty and is a genuine, new instrument — not a gray-market import. I’ve been in this business for over 45 years, and I’ve seen how much the right setup and the right guidance at the point of purchase can change a player’s trajectory. As the co-owner of Watch & Learn (Atlanta) since the 1980s and the author of Banjo Primer — the top-rated beginner banjo method — I’ve spent decades helping players find the right instrument for where they are and where they want to go. The Gold Tone BZ-500 is a serious instrument at a player-friendly price, and it’s one I’m genuinely happy to recommend. We also make it easy to get into one without a large upfront payment: financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — with no late fees. Questions before you buy? Reach out. We’re real musicians who answer the phone.

Gold Tone BZ-500 Specifications

Top	Solid Spruce
Back & Sides	Mahogany
Neck Material	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Frets	23
Inlay	Snowflake
Scale Length	26-1/4″
Nut Width	1-3/8″ ZeroGlide Nut
Truss Rod	Two-Way Adjustable
Tuners	Sealed Guitar-Style
Bridge	Adjustable Bridge
Tailpiece	Mandolin Cast
Hardware	Chrome Plated
Tuning Buttons	Metal
Finish	Natural / High Gloss
Pickup	Chopper Mandolin Bridge Pickup
String Gauges	.018, .045w, .016, .035w, .018, .018, .016, .016
Tuning (Stock)	GGDDAADD
Weight	4 lbs.
Case	Hard Shell Case Included
Setup Location	Titusville, FL, USA (Gold Tone factory setup)

Frequently Asked Questions

What tunings can the Gold Tone BZ-500 be set up in?

The BZ-500 ships tuned to GGDDAADD (octave pairs on the lower two courses, unison pairs on the upper two), which is a classic Irish bouzouki configuration. The instrument is well-suited to several other popular tunings including GDAD, GDAE, ADAD, and CFAD. If you’re coming from a guitar background, GDAE is often the easiest entry point since it mirrors the top four strings of a guitar an octave down. The instrument receives its professional setup at the Gold Tone factory in Titusville, Florida — if you need a specific alternate tuning, please reach out before your order ships.

Is the built-in pickup suitable for live performance?

Yes. The Chopper Mandolin Bridge Pickup on the BZ-500 is a passive undersaddle-style pickup that captures the acoustic tone of the instrument with minimal coloration. It works well plugged directly into an acoustic amp or a DI box for live use, and it’s also a solid option for direct recording. For players who need a more nuanced amplified tone, pairing it with a preamp pedal that has an EQ section gives you additional shaping control. That said, for casual session playing and small venues, it performs reliably right out of the box.

Does this come with everything I need to start playing?

The BZ-500 comes with the instrument, the built-in Chopper pickup (already installed), and a hard shell case — so you’re protected from day one. You’ll want to pick up a flatpick (bouzouki players typically favor medium to heavy picks), a strap, and a clip-on tuner if you don’t already have one. The professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida ensures the instrument arrives ready to play at proper action and in tune, so there’s no additional work needed before you start.

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