Gold Tone CC-OTA Cripple Creek Clawhammer Banjo Package with Gig Bag

If you have been wanting to get into clawhammer banjo — the old-time, frailing style that pre-dates bluegrass by generations — the Gold Tone CC-OTA is the package I would hand you. I have been working with beginners and seasoned players alike for over 45 years, and one thing I know for certain is that the wrong instrument can stop a promising player cold. The CC-OTA is the right instrument. At its heart is an 11-inch multi-ply maple rim topped with an 11-inch rolled-brass flat-bar tone ring and dressed with a Remo Fiberskyn head — the combination that gives open-back old-time banjos that warm, slightly muted, deeply resonant voice clawhammer demands. This is not a cosmetic choice; that rolled-brass hoop is a direct descendant of the hardware found on 19th-century parlor banjos, and it genuinely shapes the sound in a way a simple tension hoop cannot.

The maple neck is comfortable in the hand and features a rosewood fingerboard with dot-and-star inlays, 18 frets, and — critically for clawhammer players — a fretboard scoop at the head end of the neck. That scoop lets your striking finger clear the strings cleanly on the downstroke without catching on the wood, a small detail that makes an enormous difference in comfort as you build technique. A ZeroGlide nut, Gold Tone planetary tuners, a No Knot tailpiece, a vintage-style armrest secured by the bracket hooks (just like the old Fairbanks and Bacon instruments), and a Fairbanks-inspired headstock shape round out an instrument that looks and plays the part. The vintage brown satin finish on both neck and rim is tasteful and era-appropriate. The package includes a padded gig bag, a Swift Clip tuner, a banjo strap, a seventh-fret fifth-string spike, and the Bob Carlin instructional video — Bob is one of the best-known old-time educators in the country, and having his video in the box with a properly set-up banjo gives a new player a genuine path forward from day one.

Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships. This includes checking and adjusting the neck relief via the two-way truss rod, setting the action at both nut and bridge for comfortable playing across the full scale length, verifying intonation, and making sure the head tension is dialed in for the warm, responsive tone this style of banjo is meant to produce. You are not opening a box and hoping for the best — you are receiving a banjo that is ready to play.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every CC-OTA we sell carries the full manufacturer warranty and comes through legitimate distribution channels. I have spent my career in this instrument, from co-owning Watch & Learn in Atlanta since the 1980s to writing Banjo Primer — still the top-rated beginner banjo method on the market. I also co-designed the Gold Tone OB-Standard, so I have a close working relationship with this company and a genuine understanding of what they build and why. When you buy from us, you are buying from people who play, teach, and think about banjos every single day. We offer flexible financing through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and longer-term plans at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months — all with no late fees — so the right banjo does not have to wait until the timing is perfect.

Gold Tone CC-OTA Specifications

Nut Width	1-3/16″ ZeroGlide Nut
Tuners	Gold Tone Planetary
Headstock Style	Vintage Fairbanks-Style
Tuner Buttons	B-Style
Neck Material	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood with Fretboard Scoop
Frets	18
Inlay	Dot & Star
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 Fiberskyn
Tension Hoop	11″ Flat Bar
Brackets	18
Coordinator Rods	Single 11″
Tailpiece	No Knot
Armrest	Vintage-Style (bracket-hook mounted)
Bridge	Maple with Ebony Cap
Binding	Black ABS
Hardware Finish	Chrome Plated
Body Finish	Vintage Brown / Satin
String Gauge	.011, .024w, .016, .013, .011
Tuning	G D G B D (Open G)
Weight	5.5 lbs.
Included	Gig Bag, Swift Clip Tuner, Banjo Strap, 7th-Fret Fifth-String Spike, Bob Carlin Instructional Video
Optional Case	HD14
Handedness	Right-Handed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CC-OTA a good banjo for someone who has never played before?

Absolutely, and it is specifically designed with that player in mind. The fretboard scoop makes the clawhammer downstroke feel natural from the start, the Fiberskyn head produces a forgiving, warm tone that sounds good even before your technique is refined, and the Bob Carlin video gives you a structured, proven way to learn. With its professional factory setup from Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida, the action will be low enough to play comfortably without being so low that it buzzes — a balance that trips up a lot of out-of-the-box instruments in this price range.

What is the difference between this banjo and a standard bluegrass banjo, and can I use it for both styles?

The CC-OTA is an open-back banjo — there is no resonator on the back — and it uses a rolled-brass flat-bar tone ring with a Fiberskyn head. This combination produces the warm, focused, somewhat mellow voice that old-time and clawhammer music calls for. A bluegrass banjo typically has a resonator, a heavier tone ring (often cast bronze), and a clear Mylar head, all of which push toward a brighter, louder, more cutting sound suited to Scruggs-style picking. You can technically play any style on any banjo, but this one is genuinely optimized for clawhammer and old-time. If you know you want to play bluegrass, I would steer you toward the Cripple Creek CC-100 instead.

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