Gold Tone GT-Weissenborn Hawaiian-Style Slide Guitar with Gig Bag

There is something almost otherworldly about the sound of a Weissenborn-style lap steel guitar — that hollow neck resonating in sympathy with the body, producing a voice that is simultaneously warm and glassy, intimate and expansive. The Gold Tone GT-Weissenborn captures that original spirit faithfully. With a sapele top, back, and sides, an ebony bridge fitted with a bone saddle, and a walnut fingerboard dressed with simple dot inlays, this is a no-frills instrument built around tone first. The hollow-neck construction is the defining feature: unlike a solid-neck resonator or standard acoustic, the neck cavity is open to the body, which means the whole guitar vibrates as one unified chamber. The result is a sustain and bloom that you simply cannot get from a conventional guitar played with a slide. Whether you are stepping into the world of Hawaiian slack-key adjacent playing, exploring the American roots tradition of acoustic lap steel, or looking for a distinctive voice to layer into recorded work, the GT-Weissenborn opens a door to a sound most players have never heard come from their own hands.

Gold Tone has put real thought into making this instrument approachable without cutting corners on the things that matter. The satin natural finish lets the sapele breathe and shows off the wood’s ribbon-grain character. Open-gear guitar-style tuners with metal buttons keep things simple and reliable. The 24-3/4″ scale length sits in familiar territory for anyone coming from a standard guitar background. The instrument ships strung with a set gauged .014–.056w — specifically chosen so the guitar can safely handle G tuning (DGDGBD), D tuning (DADF#AD), and similar open tunings without placing undue stress on the bridge, bracing, or hollow neck. This is an important point I want to be straightforward about: Weissenborn-style guitars are not built for high-tension tunings like standard E (EBEG#BE) or Dobro G (GBDGBD). Total string tension should stay at or below 165 lbs. at A440 pitch. There are free online string-tension calculators that make it easy to check any tuning you want to try, and I always recommend using one before experimenting with alternate gauges. Respecting those limits is what keeps this instrument sounding great for decades.

Every GT-Weissenborn receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before shipping. The nut slots are checked and adjusted, the frets are dressed if needed, the action is set for comfortable slide playing, the bridge and saddle fit is inspected, and the tuners are verified to track cleanly. A Weissenborn that has not been properly set up can fight you at every turn — one that has been dialed in by someone who knows what they are doing is a joy from the first note. That setup is included in the price, full stop.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means your GT-Weissenborn comes with the full manufacturer’s warranty and the peace of mind that you are buying a genuine, properly sourced instrument. We are not a big-box retailer moving units; we are players and teachers who use and love these instruments. If you have questions about whether the Weissenborn style is right for you, what tuning to start with, or how to shop for a slide, call or email us. We are happy to talk through it. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4 and 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month plans with no late fees, plus Afterpay, so there is no reason to wait on an instrument that could change the way you hear music.

Gold Tone GT-Weissenborn Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What tuning should I use with the Gold Tone GT-Weissenborn?

The GT-Weissenborn is set up and ships in D tuning (DADF#AD), and it handles G tuning (DGDGBD) equally well with the included string set. The critical thing to understand is that the hollow-neck construction is more sensitive to string tension than a standard acoustic guitar, so high-tension tunings like standard E (EBEG#BE) or Dobro G (GBDGBD) should be avoided entirely — they can damage the bridge, bracing, or neck over time and will void the warranty. A good rule of thumb: keep total string tension at or below 165 lbs. at A440 pitch. Free online string-tension calculators make it easy to check before you experiment with any new tuning or gauge.

Do I need any special technique or gear to play a Weissenborn-style guitar?

Yes — the Weissenborn is played flat on your lap (or on a guitar stand designed for lap steel), and you fret the strings with a metal or glass slide bar rather than pressing them to the fingerboard with your fingers. Your picking hand can use fingerpicks and a thumbpick, or you can play fingerstyle with your bare fingers — both approaches have deep roots in the Hawaiian and American acoustic lap steel traditions. If you are brand new to slide playing, I recommend starting with a steel or brass bar, learning a basic open tuning, and getting comfortable with muting unwanted string noise before moving on to more complex techniques. The learning curve is real but the reward is a sound unlike anything else in acoustic music.

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