Gold Tone GME-5 5-String Solid Body Electric Mandolin with Gig Bag

I’ve been around mandolins and banjos long enough to know that the hardest instrument to shop for isn’t always the most expensive one — it’s the one that has to pull double duty on a loud stage. The Gold Tone GME-5 was built with exactly that problem in mind. The double-cutaway solid alder body keeps the weight down to just 3.4 lbs while giving you full access to the upper frets, and the dual-rail mini humbucker handles the electric side of things with authority: rich, warm grunt with no feedback, even at volume. Whether you’re comping behind a steel guitar in a Texas Swing band, laying down hillbilly jazz chord melodies, or simply plugging into a pedalboard and having fun, this instrument can go there with you.

Construction details matter on an instrument at this price point, and Gold Tone got the important ones right. The slim maple neck with integral maple fingerboard has a two-way adjustable truss rod, so it can be dialed in properly for your string gauge and playing style. The compensated cast-metal bridge gives you individual saddle adjustment for both height and intonation — something you simply don’t always get at this price. Twenty frets, traditional dot inlays, sealed guitar-style tuners with metal buttons, a 13-7/8″ scale length, and a vintage cream high-gloss finish round out a package that looks as good as it plays. The instrument ships tuned GDAE with .011–.040w strings and includes a padded gig bag. Note: Gold Tone also offers this instrument in a 4-string version (the GME-4) — if you have questions about which configuration suits your playing, just reach out.

Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships. The truss rod is checked and adjusted, nut slots are set, the bridge is adjusted for proper action and intonation, strings are stretched and tuned, and the electronics are inspected. It’s the kind of setup work that makes a real difference in how an instrument plays out of the box — and it’s included with every instrument we sell.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell comes with the full manufacturer warranty and is sourced directly through official channels. We know Gold Tone’s lineup inside and out, and we’re here to answer real questions, not just process orders. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4 and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — no late fees, plus Afterpay. If you’re ready to plug in and play, we’re ready to help you get there.

Gold Tone GME-5 Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a solid body electric mandolin like the GME-5 differ from an acoustic-electric mandolin?

A solid body electric mandolin like the GME-5 is designed from the ground up for amplified playing. Because there’s no resonating hollow chamber, feedback is essentially a non-issue even at high stage volumes — that’s where the dual-rail mini humbucker really earns its keep. The trade-off is that unplugged, it’s very quiet, much like a solid body electric guitar. If you need one instrument that works both acoustically and amplified, an acoustic-electric is probably your answer. But if you’re primarily playing live with a band and want reliable, clean amplified tone every night, the solid body design is the right tool.

Can I use guitar pedals and amps with the GME-5?

Absolutely. The GME-5 outputs a standard 1/4″ instrument signal through its humbucker pickup, so it works with any guitar amp, DI box, or effects pedal you already own. The short 13-7/8″ scale and GDAE tuning give it a distinctly mandolin voice, but it responds to overdrive, reverb, and chorus just like a guitar would. A lot of players use a small practice amp or even a portable amp modeler for rehearsal and plug into a full rig at gigs — the GME-5 handles both scenarios without complaint.

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