Gold Tone HM-100 High Moon Handcrafted Openback Banjo with Case

I’ve been around a lot of banjos over the past 45 years — from the early days running Deering’s top dealership to co-designing the OB-Standard with Gold Tone — and the HM-100 High Moon is one of those instruments that genuinely stops me in my tracks. This openback banjo didn’t begin life as a committee decision or a factory spec sheet. It was born in Gold Tone’s Titusville workshop in the hands of Chris Pariso, the shop’s master luthier who has been building and developing banjos there since 1995. Chris built the original prototypes entirely by hand — no CNC, no production machinery — experimenting with hardware, finishes, and construction details across more than 60 hand-built pieces until the design was refined enough to deserve its own model name. The result is a banjo with genuine soul: a mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard with dot-and-moon inlays, and a 12″ 3-ply maple rim fitted with a rolled brass flat bar tone ring that gives the High Moon its signature voice — present and clear up top, with a rich, earthy resonance underneath that suits old-time, clawhammer, and fingerstyle playing beautifully.

The details on this instrument reflect the kind of thoughtful iteration that only comes from years of building. The ZeroGlide nut at 1-3/8″ keeps the action clean and consistent at the first position. GT Master Planetary tuners hold pitch reliably and feel smooth under your fingers. The Trillium bridge is a thoughtful choice — it transfers vibration cleanly while letting the natural character of the head and rim speak. Maple binding and a Little Mountain Maple armrest add visual warmth that matches the mahogany satin finish perfectly. The 12″ Remo MC Renaissance head rounds out a setup tuned for the rich, slightly muted tone that openback players love. At 6.5 pounds with a 26-3/16″ scale, it’s comfortable for long playing sessions. A hardshell case is included — not a gig bag, an actual case — which tells you something about how Gold Tone feels about this model.

Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships. The setup includes checking and adjusting the neck relief, setting the action at the nut and bridge, verifying intonation, conditioning the fingerboard, and inspecting every component for fit and function. You’re not receiving a factory-fresh banjo that’s been sitting in a warehouse; you’re receiving an instrument that has been personally evaluated and dialed in for playability.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every HM-100 we sell comes with the full manufacturer warranty and factory support. I’ve spent more than four decades in this industry — writing Banjo Primer, which has remained the top-rated beginner banjo method for years, and co-designing instruments directly with Gold Tone’s team — and that depth of experience shapes how we evaluate, set up, and stand behind every banjo we sell. When you call or email us with a question, you’re talking to people who actually play and build these instruments. We offer flexible financing through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, and 24-month plans with no late fees, so you can bring home the banjo you actually want without compromise.

Gold Tone HM-100 High Moon Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the HM-100 High Moon suited for clawhammer and old-time playing, or does it work for other styles too?

The High Moon is designed with openback, old-time, and clawhammer players firmly in mind — the rolled brass flat bar tone ring, Renaissance head, and mahogany construction all contribute to that warm, focused tone with a natural decay that clawhammer players love. That said, it’s a versatile instrument. Fingerstyle players, folk guitarists crossing over to banjo, and even melodic old-time players will find it very responsive. It’s not built for bluegrass Scruggs-style — for that you’d want a resonator banjo with a heavier tone ring — but within the openback world, it covers a lot of ground beautifully.

What exactly does Chris Pariso’s hand-built development process mean for the production version I’m buying?

It means the HM-100 is genuinely the result of iterative, hands-on refinement rather than a spec conceived on a spreadsheet. Chris built more than 60 prototypes by hand — no CNC machining in the conception phase — testing different hardware combinations, finishes, and structural approaches until the design earned its own identity. The production version preserves those hard-won choices: the Trillium bridge, the ZeroGlide nut, the specific tone ring spec, the maple armrest and binding. You’re getting a banjo with a real development story behind it, not just another catalog entry.

Does the included case offer adequate protection for travel?

Yes — Gold Tone includes a proper hardshell case with the HM-100, not just a gig bag. For gigging, road trips, or air travel checked baggage, a hardshell case is the appropriate level of protection, and it’s a meaningful inclusion at this price point. If you’re flying and plan to carry on, a gig bag or lighter soft case over the hardshell is sometimes a practical solution, but for the vast majority of travel scenarios the included case will serve you well.

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