Gold Tone CC-50TR/L Cripple Creek Left-Handed Open Back Banjo with Gig Bag

If you’re a left-handed player looking for a genuine entry point into old-time or folk banjo, the Gold Tone CC-50TR/L is exactly the instrument I’d hand you. This is the left-handed version of Gold Tone’s long-running Cripple Creek CC-50 — purpose-built for players who fret with their right hand — and it gets a lot of things right that budget banjos typically get wrong. The open-back design gives it that warm, woody, slightly muted tone that old-time players prize. The multi-ply maple rim and rolled brass flat-bar tone ring work together to produce a clear, balanced sound that doesn’t feel thin or tinny the way some entry-level banjos do. Add a rosewood fingerboard with comfortable dot inlays, sealed guitar-style tuners that actually hold their pitch, and a two-way adjustable truss rod — features you don’t always see at this price — and you have a banjo that’s genuinely fun to play from day one.

I’ve been around a lot of beginner banjos over the years — forty-five-plus years in this industry will do that — and the Cripple Creek line has consistently punched above its weight. Gold Tone builds these at their factory in Titusville, Florida, and the attention to playability is evident. The ZeroGlide nut is a particularly smart touch: it reduces friction at the nut slots and keeps the strings tracking cleanly, which makes a real difference in tuning stability for a new player who’s retuning constantly. At 5.5 pounds, it’s light enough to practice with for long sessions without fatigue. The Terminator tailpiece and chrome hardware round out a package that looks and feels more substantial than its price tag suggests. A gig bag is included so you’re ready to carry it to a lesson or a jam the same day it arrives.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. At this price point, factory setups are often serviceable but not optimal, and that extra attention makes a meaningful difference in how easily the instrument plays, especially for a beginner who doesn’t yet know what good action feels like.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell is covered by Gold Tone’s full manufacturer warranty and you’re getting a genuine, new instrument — not a gray-market or diverted unit. I’ve spent my career in this space: co-authoring instructional materials with Pete Seeger and Tony Trischka, writing Banjo Primer (still the top-rated beginner method out there), and co-designing the OB-Standard with Gold Tone themselves. When I stock an instrument, it’s because I believe in it. We offer flexible financing so price is never a barrier to getting started — PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, and 24-month plans are all available with no late fees. Any questions before you buy? Just reach out. I’m happy to talk banjos.

Gold Tone CC-50TR/L Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this banjo truly set up for left-handed players, or is it just a standard banjo with reversed strings?

This is a purpose-built left-handed model, not a modified right-handed instrument. The CC-50TR/L is manufactured by Gold Tone specifically for left-handed players, with the neck, headstock, and hardware oriented correctly for a player who frets with the right hand. Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you, so it arrives ready to play in left-handed configuration.

Is an open-back banjo the right choice for a beginner, or should I look at a resonator model?

It depends entirely on the style you want to play. Open-back banjos like the CC-50 are the traditional choice for old-time and folk music — they have a warmer, softer tone and are lighter to hold. If you’re aiming for bluegrass or Scruggs-style picking, a resonator banjo projects more volume and has a brighter, punchier sound. If you’re not sure yet, the open-back is a perfectly reasonable starting point, and many players never feel the need to move on from it.

What financing options are available if I don’t want to pay the full amount upfront?

We offer several flexible options: PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and longer-term plans of 3, 6, 12, or 24 months — all with no late fees. You can choose whichever option works best for your budget at checkout.

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