Gold Tone GME-4 4-String Solid Body Electric Mandolin with Gig Bag

There is a real gap in the market between a plain acoustic mandolin and a full-on archtop electric, and the Gold Tone GME-4 fills that gap with style. The double-cutaway solid alder body gives you complete access to the upper frets, and the cream high-gloss finish gives the whole instrument a vintage vibe that sits comfortably at home in a Western swing band, a jazz combo, a country session, or an electric folk set. I have played a lot of solid-body mandolins over the years, and what sets the GME-4 apart is the thoughtfulness of the build: the dual-rail mini humbucker delivers a warm, full-bodied tone with real grunt behind it — and because it is a humbucker, you can crank the stage volume without fighting feedback, which matters enormously when you are playing in front of a loud band. The cast metal compensated bridge with individual saddle adjustment for both height and intonation is something you simply do not expect at this price, and it means the instrument can be dialed in precisely across all four strings.

The neck is slim maple with an integral maple fingerboard, traditional black dot inlays, and a radius that makes chord work and single-note runs equally comfortable. The two-way adjustable truss rod means the neck can be set perfectly for your playing style and kept there through seasonal changes. Sealed guitar-style tuners and a 1-1/16-inch ZeroGlide nut round out the hardware picture — the ZeroGlide nut in particular is a nice touch because it virtually eliminates open-string tuning discrepancies that plague conventional plastic nuts. GDAE tuning at a 13-7/8-inch scale length puts this right in familiar mandolin territory, so any mandolin player can pick it up immediately, while the electric voice opens an entirely different sonic world. At just 3.4 pounds it is easy to play for a long set, and the padded gig bag means you can carry it anywhere without worry.

Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida — checking neck relief, setting action at the nut and bridge, verifying intonation, and making sure the electronics are clean and quiet. You will not need to hand it off to a tech when it arrives; it is ready to plug in and play.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell is covered by Gold Tone’s full manufacturer warranty and you are buying a genuine, factory-fresh instrument — not a gray-market or third-party resale unit. I have been around fretted instruments for more than 45 years, and I co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, where we have been helping players find the right instruments since the 1980s. I wrote Banjo Primer, the top-rated beginner banjo method, and co-designed the OB-Standard with Gold Tone, so when I say I know these instruments, that is not marketing talk — it is lived experience. We want you to feel confident in every purchase, and that means honest descriptions, real setup, and real support after the sale. Financing is available and flexible: choose PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, or 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — all with no late fees.

Gold Tone GME-4 Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the GME-4 with a standard mandolin amp or do I need a guitar amp?

The GME-4 works beautifully through any instrument amplifier — a guitar amp, a dedicated mandolin amp, a keyboard amp, even a small acoustic amp with an aux input. The mini humbucker has a relatively warm output that responds well to a clean channel, and because it is hum-canceling you can also run it through higher-gain settings without the noise issues you would get from a single-coil pickup. A small tube combo or a clean solid-state practice amp both work great as starting points.

Is this instrument suitable for someone who has never played electric mandolin before but already plays acoustic mandolin?

Absolutely — this is actually one of the best entry points into electric mandolin for an acoustic player. The GDAE tuning is identical to a standard mandolin, the scale length is in the normal mandolin range, and the slim neck profile will feel immediately familiar. The main adjustment is learning to control your attack and dynamics for amplified playing, which comes quickly. The ZeroGlide nut and compensated bridge mean the instrument is already set up to play in tune, so you can focus on the music rather than fighting the instrument.

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