Gold Tone CC-100R+/L Cripple Creek Left-Handed Banjo with Bag

If you’re a left-handed player looking for a serious beginner or intermediate banjo that won’t hold you back, the Gold Tone CC-100R+/L is one of the smartest choices you can make. This is the left-handed version of the legendary Cripple Creek — a banjo Gold Tone has been refining for decades, with over 25,000 units sold worldwide. That kind of track record doesn’t happen by accident. The CC-100R+/L features a hard maple neck and multi-ply maple rim, a real rosewood fretboard with snowflake inlays that’s easy to refret down the road, dual 11″ coordinator rods for precise neck angle adjustment, a two-way adjustable truss rod, and a rolled brass flat bar tone ring that gives you a warm, resonant voice with real clarity in the upper register. The ZeroGlide nut keeps open strings in tune with fretted notes — a detail you simply don’t find at this price point on most competing instruments. Chrome hardware, a flat bar tension hoop, and a Remo LC Coated head round out a package that is genuinely overbuilt for what it costs.

I’ve been playing, teaching, and selling banjos for over 45 years, and the Cripple Creek line has always impressed me with how much instrument Gold Tone manages to deliver at this price. The sealed guitar-style tuners hold pitch reliably — a real blessing for students — and the natural high-gloss finish shows off the maple beautifully. The straight Terminator tailpiece gives you good downward pressure on the bridge without fighting you when you want to adjust string break angle. For left-handed players especially, finding a well-built, properly set-up instrument at this price used to mean settling. The CC-100R+/L changes that. It ships with a padded gig bag included, so you’re covered from day one.

Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. A proper setup makes an enormous difference in playability and tone, and it’s something that’s done on every instrument, regardless of price.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means your instrument comes with full manufacturer warranty support and you’re buying from a source Gold Tone stands behind. I’m Geoff Hohwald — I’ve been in the banjo world since the late 1970s, co-founded Watch & Learn in Atlanta, and wrote Banjo Primer, widely considered the top-rated beginner banjo method available. I co-designed the Gold Tone OB-Standard, and was Deering Banjo’s number one dealer back in 1980. When I recommend an instrument, it’s because I know it. I don’t carry banjos I wouldn’t put in a student’s or working picker’s hands. We also make banjos accessible financially — we offer PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, and 24-month financing plans, all with no late fees, so you can get playing without waiting.

Gold Tone CC-100R+/L Specifications

Handedness	Left-Handed
Nut Width	1-3/16″ ZeroGlide Nut
Tuners	Sealed Guitar-Style
Headstock Buttons	B-Style
Neck Material	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood (Black-Bound)
Frets	22
Inlay	Snowflake
Truss Rod	Two-Way Adjustable
Scale Length	26-3/16″
Rim	11″ Multi-Ply Maple
Tone Ring	11″ Rolled Brass Flat Bar
Head	11″ Remo LC Coated Topside
Tension Hoop	11″ Flat Bar
Brackets	24
Coordinator Rods	Dual 11″
Tailpiece	Terminator
Bridge	Maple with Ebony Cap
Binding	Black ABS
Finish	Natural / High Gloss
Hardware	Chrome Plated
Armrest	Fits All GT Engraved
String Gauge	.011, .024w, .016, .013, .011
Tuning	G D G B D
Weight	6 lbs.
Bag	Included
Optional Case	HD14
Setup Location	Titusville, FL (Gold Tone factory)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this banjo truly configured for left-handed playing, or is it just a right-handed banjo strung in reverse?

The CC-100R+/L is a purpose-built left-handed instrument — the neck, headstock, and rim assembly are all oriented for left-handed players, not simply a right-handed model with the strings flipped. Gold Tone builds these specifically, which means the nut, coordinator rod placement, and overall geometry are correct for southpaw players from the start.

I’m a complete beginner. Is the CC-100R+/L going to be easy enough to learn on?

Absolutely — this is one of the instruments I’d point a left-handed beginner toward without hesitation. The ZeroGlide nut keeps tuning accurate between open and fretted notes, the action is set low and comfortable with professional factory setup before it ships, and the sealed tuners hold pitch reliably so you’re not constantly fighting the instrument. Pair it with a good method book and you’ll be rolling in no time.

Does the included gig bag offer enough protection for travel?

The padded gig bag that comes with the CC-100R+/L is solid for everyday transport — lessons, jams, back seat of the car. If you’re flying or need hard-shell protection, we recommend adding the optional HD14 case, which we can include with your order. Just reach out and we’ll sort it out for you.

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