Gold Tone HM-100 High Moon Handcrafted Openback Banjo with Case (Left-Handed)

This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone HM-100 High Moon, and I want to be upfront with left-handed players: instruments like this — truly handcrafted, limited in number, and built with this level of intention — almost never come in left-handed configurations. If you play left-handed and you’ve been waiting for an openback banjo with genuine handmade character at a price that doesn’t require a second mortgage, this is worth your full attention. The High Moon was conceived entirely by Chris Pariso, Gold Tone’s shop luthier since 1995 — a builder who has helped bring landmark models to life including the OT-800, OB-Bela, BC-350, and the CEB-4 and CEB-5. There was no machinery involved in building the original prototype or any of the 60-plus pieces Chris assembled by hand out of Gold Tone’s Titusville, Florida shop. He experimented with hardware, modified existing Gold Tone components, evolved the design through multiple iterations, and eventually landed on something so distinctive that Gold Tone put it into production. That origin story matters. This isn’t a banjo designed by committee — it’s a banjo that came from one person’s deep relationship with the instrument.

The High Moon is built around a 12-inch three-ply maple rim with a rolled brass flat-bar tone ring — a combination that gives you warmth and presence without the hard, cutting edge of a heavier bluegrass setup. The mahogany neck is smooth and fast, capped with an ebony fingerboard at 19 frets, dot-and-moon inlays, and a ZeroGlide nut at 1-3/8 inches that keeps open strings in tune with the fretted ones. GT Master Planetary tuners give you precise, reliable tuning that planetary players trust. The Little Mountain maple armrest, crescent tailpiece, Trillium bridge, and maple binding are all details that feel considered rather than spec’d. At 6.5 pounds with a 26-3/16-inch scale, this banjo sits comfortably in the classic old-time range. The 12-inch Remo MC Renaissance head is a strong choice for old-time and clawhammer players who want a balanced, woody sound without the brightness of a frosted head. A hard case is included — not a bag, a case — which tells you something about how Gold Tone feels about this instrument.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. That means proper head tension, bridge placement, action adjusted at both the nut and coordinator rod, and a careful intonation check — everything that separates a banjo that plays the way it should from one that just looks like it should. Left-handed setups require particular attention to detail, and this one is handled with the same care given to every instrument that comes through the Gold Tone shop.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell comes with Gold Tone’s full manufacturer warranty and the peace of mind that comes with buying through an official channel. I’ve been in this business for more than 45 years — I co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, wrote Banjo Primer (still the top-rated beginner method out there), and co-designed the OB-Standard with Gold Tone — and I can tell you that the HM-100 is one of the more genuinely interesting instruments Gold Tone has released in recent years. It’s not a spec exercise. It’s a banjo with a real story behind it. We keep financing flexible because we know instruments like this deserve to be played, not just admired from a distance. We accept PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, and 24-month financing plans — no late fees on any of them.

Gold Tone HM-100 High Moon Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What style of playing is the HM-100 best suited for?

The High Moon is an openback banjo built with old-time and clawhammer players in mind, though fingerpickers and melody players will find a lot to love here too. The rolled brass flat-bar tone ring gives it warmth and depth without the sharpness you’d associate with a heavier bluegrass setup, and the Remo Renaissance head reinforces that earthy, woody character. The 26-3/16-inch scale and 1-3/8-inch nut width are comfortable for most adult players. If you play frailing, drop-thumb, or any variety of old-time clawhammer, this banjo was built with you in mind.

Is a left-handed banjo harder to find parts and accessories for?

For most accessories — cases, straps, picks, strings, tuners — handedness doesn’t matter at all. The HM-100 takes standard 12-inch banjo heads, bridge replacements are widely available, and strings are identical to the right-handed model. The one area where left-handed players sometimes encounter friction is in setup and repair, which is exactly why having a professional setup already done before the banjo ships is meaningful. Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. You’re not getting a right-handed banjo with the strings flipped — this is properly configured for left-handed play from the start.

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