Gold Tone CC-100RW Cripple Creek Banjo with Bag

If I had to point a new player or an experienced one on a budget toward a single banjo under $800, the Gold Tone CC-100RW Cripple Creek would be at the top of that short list. I’ve been working with beginners and advancing players since 1963, and I’ve watched this instrument earn its reputation honestly: over 25,000 Cripple Creek banjos have gone out into the world, and they keep coming back in conversations as the instrument people learned on, the one they still gig with, the one they bought for their kid and ended up keeping for themselves. The CC-100RW outclasses every comparably priced banjo I know of, and it does it with features that actually matter: a hard maple neck and rim, a real rosewood fretboard that is easily re-fretted when the time comes, dual 11-inch coordinator rods for solid intonation and easy neck adjustment, a two-way adjustable truss rod, a 1-5/16″ ZeroGlide nut that gives your fretting hand more room than the standard CC-100R, and a rolled brass flat-bar tone ring that gives the head something real to sing against. The result is a banjo with genuine projection and a clear, focused tone that doesn’t sound like a compromise.

The “W” in CC-100RW stands for wide. The 1-5/16″ nut width is 1/8″ wider than the standard Cripple Creek models, which makes a real difference for players with larger hands or anyone who wants a little more room between the strings. Everything else about the CC-100RW shares the same quality construction as the CC-100R: an 11-inch multi-ply maple rim that is rigid and resonant, a Remo LC coated head that is broken in just enough at the factory to respond well immediately, chrome-plated hardware, 24-bracket tension hoop, and a Terminator tailpiece. GT Planetary tuners provide smooth, precise tuning with excellent gear ratios. Snowflake inlays and a curly maple headstock veneer with B-style buttons give it a look that punches well above its price point. The gig bag is included. If you want a hard case, Gold Tone’s HD15 fits perfectly and can be added at checkout.

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

Watch: Gold Tone CC-100RW Sound Demo

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer in Yellow Springs, Ohio, which means your CC-100RW comes with the full manufacturer’s warranty and you’re buying from a source Gold Tone trusts. I’m Geoff Hohwald. I’ve been playing and selling banjos since 1963. I’m the author of The Banjo Primer, which has sold over 200,000 copies, and I collaborated with Gold Tone founder Wayne Rogers on the design of the OB-Standard. Every banjo we sell receives an additional professional setup by our banjo tech Tara, who trained at the Huber Banjo factory under Steve Huber and Bennie Boling. That means your CC-100RW has been through two professional setups before it reaches you. We offer flexible financing through PayPal Pay in 4 and Afterpay with options for 4 interest-free payments or 3, 6, 12, or 24 month plans with no late fees. Questions before you buy? Call me at (404) 218-8580.

Gold Tone CC-100RW Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between the CC-100R and the CC-100RW?

The “W” stands for wide. The CC-100RW has a 1-5/16″ nut width, which is 1/8″ wider than the standard CC-100R at 1-3/16″. Everything else is the same construction. The wider nut gives your fretting hand more room between the strings, which is a meaningful upgrade for players with larger hands or anyone who finds standard nut widths cramped. The CC-100RW also ships with GT Planetary tuners for smoother, more precise tuning.

Is the CC-100RW good enough to grow with, or will I outgrow it quickly?

This is the question I get most often about this banjo, and the honest answer is that most players won’t outgrow it for years, if ever. The maple rim, brass tone ring, real rosewood fretboard, and dual coordinator rods are features you find on instruments costing considerably more. I’ve seen students move through all of The Banjo Primer and well into intermediate repertoire on a Cripple Creek without feeling held back. When players do eventually move up, it’s usually because they want a specific tonal character or a fancier instrument, not because the CC-100RW stopped working for them.

What exactly does the factory setup include, and why does it matter?

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships. The setup includes adjusting the neck angle, setting the action at the nut and bridge to proper playing height, checking intonation across the fretboard, seating the head to the correct tension, and dialing in the coordinator rods. At Banjo Warehouse, our banjo tech Tara gives every Cripple Creek an additional professional setup before we send it to you. On a banjo in this price range, a proper setup can make the difference between an instrument that inspires you to practice and one that sits in the corner.