Gold Tone LG-R/L Left-Handed Ruby Little Gem Banjo-Ukulele with Bag
$219.99
The Gold Tone LG-R/L Little Gem is a see-through Ruby (red) banjo-ukulele that won Best in Show at Summer NAMM 2018 — and now it’s available in a left-handed build for players who deserve something truly special. Its clear acrylic rim and resonator deliver a bright, penetrating tone that turns heads at every jam, while the maple neck, sealed tuners, and 8″ clear head make it a genuinely playable instrument at an approachable price. This is the left-handed version, built to order by Gold Tone and professionally set up at their Titusville, Florida shop before it ships to you — gig bag included.
Built to order · Ships from Gold Tone in 1 to 2 weeks
Questions? Call or text us at 404-218-8580Read customer reviews
Questions about this banjo? Call or text 404-218-8580
Watch the demoHear this model played Little Gem Wins Best In Show at Summer NAMM 2018, opens a video playerAt a Glance
- Handedness
- Left-Handed
- Style
- Banjo Ukulele
- Strings
- 4
- Scale Length
- 15"
- Pickup
- No
- Made In
- China
- Weight
- 2.63 lbs
Some instruments stop a room the moment you pick them up — the Gold Tone LG-R/L Ruby Little Gem Banjo-Ukulele is one of them. Winner of the Best in Show award at Summer NAMM 2018, the Little Gem line earned that recognition for good reason: a stunning see-through acrylic rim and resonator in a deep, jewel-toned Ruby red, paired with genuine playability that goes far beyond a novelty instrument. This is the left-handed version, purpose-built for southpaw players who want something that performs as beautifully as it looks.
Strung to standard GCEA concert ukulele tuning across a 15″ scale, the Little Gem feels immediately familiar to any uke player while the banjo construction adds snap, projection, and that characteristic bright attack. The maple neck and fingerboard offer a smooth playing surface with dot-and-star inlays to mark your position, and 18 frets give you plenty of range. Sealed guitar-style tuners hold pitch reliably, a 5/8″ maple bridge with ebony cap focuses tone nicely, and chrome hardware throughout keeps the whole package looking sharp. At just 2.63 lbs., it travels effortlessly — this is a banjo-uke that genuinely wants to go everywhere with you.
Your Ruby Little Gem ships factory-fresh direct from Gold Tone, where every instrument receives a professional setup at their Titusville, Florida shop before it leaves. As an authorized Gold Tone dealer, we back your purchase with the full manufacturer warranty, and our team is here to help you before and after the sale — whether you have setup questions, need accessory advice, or just want to talk banjos. A gig bag is included with your order. This is a build-to-order item. Gold Tone typically ships your left-handed Little Gem within 1–2 weeks of your order.
Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse
Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell is a genuine new product backed by the full Gold Tone manufacturer warranty — no grey-market surprises. The shop is run by Geoff Hohwald, author of the Banjo Primer and co-designer of the Gold Tone OB-Standard, with over 45 years in the banjo world. That depth of experience means our team can offer real guidance on playability, setup, and accessories — not just a transaction. We want you to love this instrument for years, and we’re here to help make that happen. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4 and 3, 6, 12, and 24-month plans, all with no late fees, plus Afterpay, so your Ruby Little Gem can be on its way without waiting.
Gold Tone LG-R/L Little Gem Specifications
| Model | LG-R/L (Left-Handed) |
| Color | Ruby (see-through red) |
| Scale Length | 15″ Concert |
| Tuning | GCEA |
| String Gauge | .027, .038, .028, .022 |
| Nut Width | 1-3/8″ Bone |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Maple |
| Frets | 18 |
| Inlay | Dot & Star |
| Tuners | Sealed Guitar-Style |
| Headstock Buttons | Metal |
| Rim | 8″ Acrylic (see-through) |
| Head | 8″ Clear |
| Bridge | 5/8″ Maple with Ebony Cap |
| Brackets | 12 |
| Tension Hoop | 8″ Rolled Brass Flat Bar |
| Tailpiece | Banjo Uke Style |
| Hardware Finish | Chrome Plated |
| Binding | Black ABS |
| Weight | 2.63 lbs. |
| Bag | Included |
| Setup | Professionally set up at Gold Tone, Titusville, FL |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take to receive my left-handed Ruby Little Gem?
Because Gold Tone builds left-handed Little Gems to order from their right-handed stock pool, there is no shelf stock waiting to ship. Gold Tone typically turns these around within 1–2 weeks of your order being placed. Once it leaves their Titusville, Florida shop — fully set up and ready to play — standard shipping time applies to your location. If you have questions about timing, our team is happy to help.
Is a banjo-ukulele hard to learn if I already play ukulele?
Not at all. The Little Gem is tuned to standard GCEA concert ukulele tuning with a 15″ concert scale, so chord shapes and fingering you already know transfer directly. The main difference is feel and tone — the banjo head gives you more projection and a brighter, snappier attack compared to a traditional uke soundboard. Most ukulele players find the transition very natural within a session or two.
Does the see-through acrylic body affect tone, or is it just a visual feature?
The acrylic rim is a real tonal choice, not just eye candy. The rigid, non-porous nature of the acrylic focuses vibration efficiently and contributes to the Little Gem’s notably penetrating, punchy tone. It also happens to look extraordinary — especially in Ruby red — which is why it won Best in Show at Summer NAMM 2018. You get both the look and the sound.
Want to know when new banjos arrive? Join our email list: Sign up here.
Videos
Be the first to review “Gold Tone LG-R/L Left-Handed Ruby Little Gem Banjo-Ukulele with Bag”
You must be logged in to post a review.
More Left-Handed Ukuleles
The Gold Tone BUT/L is a tenor-scale banjo ukulele tuned GCEA — standard ukulele tuning — on a 17" scale with 20 frets. This is the factory-built left-handed version. It is built on the same 8-inch multi-ply maple rim and pot assembly Gold Tone uses across the whole banjo-uke family, with an 8-inch Remo MC Smooth head and a maple flat-back resonator, so it gives you the bright, percussive snap of a banjo with the voicing and chord shapes of a uke. A hard shell case is included, and every one is professionally set up at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, FL before it ships.
Left-Handed model. This is the factory left-handed (/L) build. (Gold Tone does not photograph left-handed instruments — the images show the right-handed version; the instrument shipped is built left-handed.)
The Gold Tone Lightup Little Gem Diamond is a one-of-a-kind see-through banjo ukulele that won Best in Show at Summer NAMM 2018, featuring a clear acrylic rim and resonator with built-in LED lighting in three modes. Tuned GCEA at concert scale, it delivers a surprisingly penetrating, bright tone that makes it as fun to play as it is to look at. A gig bag is included, and every instrument is professionally set up at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, FL.
The Gold Tone ResoMaple-Tenor/L is a tenor-scale resonator ukulele built from stunning curly maple, delivering a crisp, projecting tone with the extra range and string tension a 16-inch scale brings. A biscuit cone, blackwood fingerboard, slimline mahogany neck, and upgraded Kluson-style tuners make this instrument a serious step up in both sound and playability. It arrives factory set up by Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida and includes a heavy-duty gig bag.
The Gold Tone ResoMaple/L is a concert-scale resonator ukulele built from stunning curly maple, delivering a crisp, projecting tone that sets it apart from standard acoustic ukes. A biscuit cone, rosewood fingerboard, slimline mahogany neck, and upgraded Kluson-style tuners make this instrument a serious step up in both sound and playability. It arrives factory set up by Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida and includes a heavy-duty gig bag.
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone BU-1 concert-scale banjo ukulele — a standout instrument that packs genuine banjo tone, a factory-installed pickup, and a padded gig bag into one surprisingly affordable package. Built with an 8-inch maple pot, a Remo Fiberskyn head, and Gold Tone's patented Zero Glide nut, the BU-1/L is ready to play and amplify right out of the box. Professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL before it ships to you.
The Gold Tone LG-D/L is the left-handed version of the award-winning Little Gem Banjo-Ukulele, featuring a stunning see-through Diamond (clear/crystal) acrylic rim and resonator that turns heads as quickly as it delights ears. Tuned GCEA in concert scale, it delivers a bright, penetrating banjo-uke tone with a maple neck, sealed tuners, and a bone nut — everything you need to start playing straight out of the box. This instrument arrives factory set up by Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida, and includes a gig bag.
The Gold Tone LG-A/L is the left-handed version of the award-winning Little Gem Banjo-Ukulele, dressed in a stunning see-through amethyst purple and built for players who want a genuinely fun, great-sounding instrument that turns heads in any room. The acrylic rim and resonator deliver a bright, penetrating tone that punches well above its price point, while sealed guitar-style tuners and a bone nut keep it playing in tune and feeling right. This left-handed model arrives factory set up by Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida, and includes a gig bag.
The Gold Tone LG-S/L is the left-handed version of the award-winning Little Gem Banjo-Ukulele, finished in a stunning see-through Sapphire blue with a composite acrylic rim and resonator that turns heads as much as it rings out. Tuned GCEA on a 15" concert scale with a maple neck, sealed tuners, and a punchy, penetrating tone, it delivers everything a banjo-uke should — in a package that left-handed players can finally call their own. This instrument arrives factory set up by Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida, and includes a gig bag.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.