Gold Tone CC-OTA/L Cripple Creek Clawhammer Banjo Package (Left-Handed)

If you play left-handed and have been waiting for a clawhammer package that doesn’t cut corners, the Gold Tone CC-OTA/L is exactly what I’d put in your hands. This is the left-handed version of Gold Tone’s well-regarded CC-OT, and every detail of the instrument is reversed and purpose-built for southpaw players — not a flipped right-handed neck, but a proper left-handed banjo. The heart of the CC-OT’s old-timey sound is its 11-inch rolled-brass flat-bar tone ring sitting on a multi-ply maple rim, topped with a Remo LC Fiberskyn head. That combination gives you the warm, slightly muted thump that clawhammer and frailing styles absolutely demand — bright enough to cut in a jam, but never harsh. The vintage Fairbanks-style headstock shape and rich vintage-brown satin finish tell you right away that Gold Tone designed this banjo with early American roots music in mind, not as an afterthought.

The maple neck is comfortable in the hand and features a scooped rosewood fretboard — that scoop near the fifth-string spike area is a subtle but important clawhammer detail that gives your striking finger clearance and keeps your attack clean. Eighteen brackets pull the Fiberskyn head to an even tension, and Gold Tone’s planetary tuners hold pitch reliably under the abuse of drop-thumb playing and open tunings. A vintage-style armrest secured by the bracket hooks, a No Knot tailpiece, and a seventh-fret fifth-string spike round out the hardware in a way that feels historically informed rather than arbitrarily vintage. The package includes a gig bag, a Swift Clip tuner, a banjo strap, and the Bob Carlin instructional video — so a left-handed beginner truly has everything needed to start making music on day one. I’ve been in this industry for over 45 years, and I can tell you that a thoughtfully assembled package like this one saves a new player from the frustration of piecing together compatible gear one item at a time.

Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships. Neck relief is checked and adjusted using the two-way truss rod, action is set at the nut and bridge to comfortable clawhammer-friendly heights, head tension is verified for that characteristic Fiberskyn response, and the ZeroGlide nut is properly seated so intonation is clean right from the start. You won’t need to take it anywhere before you play it.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every CC-OTA/L we sell comes with the full manufacturer’s warranty and is a genuine, current-production instrument — not a gray-market or closeout piece. I’m Geoff Hohwald, co-owner of Watch & Learn in Atlanta, author of Banjo Primer (consistently rated the number-one beginner banjo method), and someone who has spent decades working with players at every level. I co-designed the OB-Standard with Gold Tone, so when I say a banjo is a good value, I’m speaking from a long career spent evaluating these instruments seriously. We want your first clawhammer banjo experience to be a great one. Financing is available with no late fees through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month installment plans — so you can get the right instrument now without straining your budget.

Gold Tone CC-OTA/L Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this banjo truly built left-handed, or is it just a right-handed banjo with the strings reversed?

The CC-OTA/L is a purpose-built left-handed instrument. The neck is constructed with the proper left-handed geometry, the headstock is mirrored, and the nut is cut for left-handed string spacing. It is not simply a flipped right-handed banjo, and it receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida with left-handed playing position in mind.

Is the Remo Fiberskyn head the right choice for clawhammer, or should I consider changing it?

Fiberskyn heads are one of the most popular choices for clawhammer and old-time playing for good reason — they produce the warm, somewhat muted tone that complements frailing and drop-thumb styles beautifully. I would encourage you to play it as-is for a good while before considering a head change. Many experienced old-time players use Fiberskyn heads indefinitely and love the sound.

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