Gold Tone Custom Shop OB-2 JM Joe Mullins Signature Banjo with Engraved Tension Hoop — Banjo Warehouse Exclusive
$ 2,519.99
A Banjo Warehouse exclusive. The Gold Tone Custom Shop OB-2 JM takes Joe Mullins’s signature banjo — postwar RB-150 bowtie tone, rolled brass tone ring, all-mahogany neck and resonator — and adds a fully hand-engraved brass tension hoop co-developed with Gold Tone. Presentation-grade ornamentation you won’t find on any other OB-2 JM in the world. One limited run. Includes premium hardshell case and professional setup by our luthier in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
In stock
Gold Tone Custom Shop OB-2 JM with Engraved Tension Hoop — A Banjo Warehouse Exclusive
Some banjos you can buy anywhere. This one you can only buy here.
What Makes This a Custom Shop Banjo?
This is not a standard OB-2 JM. Working directly with Gold Tone, we commissioned a run with a fully hand-engraved brass tension hoop — floral and sunburst engraving circling the entire pot, echoing the ornamented hardware of the great presentation-grade banjos of the 1920s and ’30s. It’s the kind of detail you’d expect on an instrument at several times the price, and it’s available only through Banjo Warehouse.
The Foundation: Joe Mullins’s Signature Voice
Underneath the engraving is the same banjo our neighbor Joe Mullins put his name on — modeled after the postwar Gibson RB-150 bowtie design. The rolled brass tone ring delivers that warm, focused midrange; the all-mahogany neck and resonator give it a rounder, richer voice than its maple siblings; the golden sunburst finish and classic bowtie inlays complete the vintage look. Premium Gotoh planetary tuners keep it rock-solid, and Joe’s gold signature armrest finishes it off.
Who Is This Banjo For?
The player who wants professional bowtie tone and an instrument nobody else at the jam owns. Collectors of signature models. Anyone who’s admired engraved prewar hardware and wanted it without the five-figure price. This is a limited run — when they’re gone, they’re gone.
What’s Included with the Custom Shop OB-2 JM?
Premium hardshell case, professional setup by our luthier Tara Buchy at our Yellow Springs, Ohio shop, and the only engraved-hoop OB-2 JM you’ll find anywhere.
Hear It
Geoff takes a look at the Custom Shop OB-2 JM — and lets the engraved-hoop banjo speak for itself.
▶ Watch the full demo on YouTube
Gold Tone Custom Shop OB-2 JM Specifications
| Tension Hoop | Hand-engraved brass (Banjo Warehouse Custom Shop exclusive) |
| Tone Ring | Rolled brass |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Resonator | Mahogany |
| Rim | Gold Tone lightweight design |
| Finish | Golden sunburst |
| Tuners | Gotoh |
| Armrest | Joe Mullins signature |
| Case | Premium hardshell included |
| Setup | Professional setup included |
Looking for the standard version? See the Gold Tone OB-2 JM Joe Mullins Signature Banjo. Want to see everything we’ve built with Gold Tone? Visit the Gold Tone Custom Shop.
Contact Banjo Warehouse | Expert Banjo Sales & Lessons
For detailed descriptions or to chat about banjos, call Geoff Hohwald at 404-218-8580 — your go-to expert for vintage and new banjos.
Email us anytime at thebanjowarehouse@gmail.com.
Follow Banjo Warehouse on social media and marketplaces:
- Facebook – Join our community and get updates
- Reverb – Shop our latest banjo listings
- eBay – Find rare and vintage instruments
- YouTube – Watch demos, reviews, and lessons
Want to visit? Call Geoff to schedule an appointment at our Yellow Springs, OH location (serving Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, and beyond). Serious inquiries only, please.
Banjo Lessons & Instruction
Geoff Hohwald, author of the bestselling The Banjo Primer, offers in-person and virtual banjo lessons for all skill levels. Explore his full catalog of instructional banjo books and digital modules.
Call today to book your session and start mastering the 5-string banjo with a top instructor.
About Banjo Warehouse
Banjo Warehouse is a family-owned business backed by over 50 years of musical experience and 40 years of instrument retail and education expertise. We specialize in 5-string flathead banjos, with occasional selections of guitars, mandolins, and other folk instruments.
Founder Geoff Hohwald has been an active member of the bluegrass and acoustic music community since the 1960s. A professional banjo and guitar player, Geoff co-founded Watch and Learn Publishing and has owned multiple music stores in Atlanta. Today, Banjo Warehouse is your trusted source for vintage and new banjos, expert advice, and quality instruments.
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