Gold Tone CC-Irish Tenor Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo with Bag

Irish tenor banjo has a sound all its own — punchy, cutting, and full of forward drive — and the Gold Tone CC-Irish Tenor (CC-IT) is one of the most complete entry points into that tradition available anywhere near its price. Built around an 11″ multi-ply maple rim fitted with an 11″ rolled brass flat-bar tone ring, the CC-IT delivers the incisive, harmonically rich attack that players of Irish traditional music need to cut through a lively session. The 17-fret rosewood fingerboard sits on a fast, smooth maple neck with a two-way adjustable truss rod, meaning this banjo will stay in spec through seasonal humidity changes and grow with you as your technique develops. Snowflake inlays, chrome plated hardware, black ABS binding, and a high-gloss natural finish give the instrument a clean, classic look that suits both the stage and the session room.

Tuned GDAE — the same as a mandola or the lower four strings of a violin — the CC-Irish Tenor makes an intuitive transition for fiddle players and opens up the full canon of reels, jigs, hornpipes, and slow airs. Gold Tone specified an 11″ Remo LC Smooth head for a warm attack with minimal overtone bloom, a maple-and-ebony-cap bridge for clear note separation, and their Terminator tailpiece for reliable string anchoring. Eighteen hooks, dual 11″ coordinator rods, and a 13″ maple resonator round out a spec sheet that punches well above the price. Whether you are picking up a tenor banjo for the first time or you need a dependable road instrument so your primary banjo stays safe at home, the CC-IT covers both situations with ease.

This instrument ships factory-fresh direct from Gold Tone, where every CC-Irish Tenor receives a professional setup at their Titusville, Florida shop before it leaves their hands — so it arrives ready to play straight out of the box. As an authorized Gold Tone dealer, we back every purchase with the full manufacturer warranty, and our team is here before and after the sale for setup questions, string recommendations, and accessory advice. A gig bag is included with your purchase, giving you everything you need to head to your first session.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every CC-Irish Tenor we sell is a genuine new instrument covered by the full Gold Tone manufacturer warranty — not a grey-market copy or a closeout. The shop is run by Geoff Hohwald, author of the Banjo Primer and co-designer of the Gold Tone OB-Standard, with over 45 years in the banjo world. That depth of experience shapes everything about how our team evaluates and recommends instruments: we know the Gold Tone line intimately and can help you choose the right model, the right strings, and the right accessories for where you are in your playing. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — all with no late fees — so you can get playing without waiting.

Gold Tone CC-Irish Tenor Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an Irish tenor banjo and a standard 4-string tenor banjo?

The key difference is scale length and tuning. The CC-Irish Tenor uses a 17-fret neck with a 19-3/4″ scale length and is tuned GDAE — an octave below a mandolin or violin. Standard tenor banjos typically have 17 or 19 frets and are tuned CGDA. The shorter, GDAE-tuned Irish tenor is the preferred voice in Celtic sessions because it replicates the range and fingering of fiddle, making it immediately intuitive for melody players coming from that tradition.

Is the CC-Irish Tenor a good choice for a complete beginner?

Absolutely. Gold Tone designed the CC-IT specifically with the beginning player in mind, and the professional setup performed in Titusville means the action, intonation, and neck relief are dialed in before the banjo reaches you. The ZeroGlide nut eliminates common open-string tuning problems, the two-way adjustable truss rod ensures long-term stability, and the fast maple neck is genuinely comfortable from day one. Pair it with a beginner Irish tenor method book and you have everything you need to start learning traditional music straight away.

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