I want to be direct with you: the Gold Tone GM-70+/L is a left-handed F-style mandolin that punches well above its price class. When you look at the spec sheet — all-solid wood construction, a hand-carved solid spruce top, solid maple back and sides, radiused ebony fretboard, ZeroGlide bone nut, gold-plated Grover tuning machines, and a cast-brass tailpiece — you’re reading the recipe for instruments that cost two or three times as much. Gold Tone built this one for the player who is done with laminate tops and starter-grade hardware but isn’t ready to spend $3,000 to get there. And this is the left-handed version, purpose-built for left-handed players — not a restrung right-handed instrument, not a compromise.
The carved solid spruce top is the heart of it. Solid spruce responds to your pick attack with a liveliness and dynamic range that no laminate can replicate, and it only gets better as it opens up over years of playing. The solid maple back and sides add that bright, focused projection that makes an F-style mandolin cut through a jam or a recording session. The radiused ebony fretboard with traditional inlays sits under a maple neck with a two-way adjustable truss rod, meaning this instrument can be dialed in precisely and will stay that way. The adjustable radiused bridge gives you proper intonation across all 18 frets. Gold Tone even offers an optional LR Baggs pickup installation if you want to play amplified — ask us about that when you order. The tobacco sunburst high-gloss finish looks exactly as good in person as it does in photos. This is a complete, professional-grade instrument, and it ships with a hardshell case included.
Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships. That means action adjusted to playable, comfortable heights; nut slots cut properly so open chords ring true; intonation checked at the bridge; and every mechanical component verified. You won’t spend your first evening fighting an instrument that arrived out of spec — it will be ready to play the moment you open the case.
Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse
Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means you get the full manufacturer warranty, you’re buying a genuine instrument through a legitimate channel, and Gold Tone stands behind every sale. I’ve been in this industry for more than 45 years — I co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, wrote Banjo Primer (the top-rated beginner banjo method), and I co-designed the OB-Standard with Gold Tone — so when I tell you the GM-70+ represents real value, I’m speaking from deep familiarity with what these instruments are and what they’re worth. I don’t say that lightly. We carry Gold Tone because we believe in what they build. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — no late fees. If you have questions about this instrument, about left-handed setup options, or about the optional LR Baggs pickup, reach out. We’re happy to talk through it.
Gold Tone GM-70+/L Specifications
| Handedness | Left-Handed |
| Top | Carved Solid Spruce |
| Back & Sides | Solid Maple |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Radiused Ebony |
| Frets | 18 |
| Inlay | Traditional |
| Nut | 1-1/8″ ZeroGlide Bone Nut |
| Tuners | Grover F-Style, Gold Plated, White Buttons |
| Hardware Finish | Gold Plated |
| Tailpiece | Cast Brass Mandolin Tailpiece |
| Bridge | Adjustable Radiused Bridge |
| Binding | Cream ABS |
| Body Finish | Tobacco Sunburst, High Gloss |
| Truss Rod | Two-Way Adjustable |
| Scale Length | 13-3/4″ |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs. |
| String Gauge | .040w, .026w, .016, .011 (Doubled) |
| Tuning | GDAE |
| Case | Hardshell Case Included |
| Pickup Option | LR Baggs Available (Extra Cost) |
| Setup | Professionally set up at the Gold Tone factory in Titusville, Florida |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this truly a left-handed mandolin, or is it just a right-handed instrument restrung?
This is a genuine left-handed instrument — the GM-70+/L is purpose-built by Gold Tone for left-handed players. The body orientation, the nut, the bridge, and the tailpiece are all configured for a left-handed player from the factory. It is not a restrung right-handed model.
Does the all-solid wood construction make a real difference at this price point?
Yes, and significantly so. A carved solid spruce top responds to pick attack with a dynamic sensitivity and tonal complexity that laminate simply cannot reproduce. You’ll hear it the moment you play an open chord — there’s a bloom and sustain to the note that tells you the top is working with you. Solid maple back and sides add focused, bright projection. This combination is what separates a working musician’s instrument from a beginner-grade one, and Gold Tone has managed to bring it in at a price point that makes it genuinely accessible.
Can I have the LR Baggs pickup installed before it ships?
Yes — Gold Tone offers the LR Baggs pickup as an add-on option for the GM-70+. Contact us before placing your order and we can arrange to have it installed. It’s a great option if you plan to play any amplified settings, whether that’s a stage, a recording session, or a loud jam.
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