Gold Tone Mandocello Left-Handed with Pickup and Case

If you’ve been searching for a left-handed mandocello and coming up empty, I understand — these instruments are genuinely hard to find, and an affordable one with real features is almost unheard of. The Gold Tone Mandocello in left-handed configuration is exactly that rarity. Tuned CCGGDDAA (an octave below a standard mandolin family tuning), it fills the cello register of the mandolin family with warmth and authority, making it ideal for Celtic ensembles, classical chamber settings, experimental folk projects, or any left-handed player who wants to explore a voice that most musicians have never even heard live. This is the left-handed version — the nut, nut slots, tuners, and bridge are all oriented for left-hand playing right out of the box.

What Gold Tone has accomplished here is remarkable. The Venetian-style cutaway gives easy access to the upper frets on that 25-inch scale. The solid spruce top over maple back and sides provides the kind of tonal foundation you’d expect from instruments costing significantly more. The patented Zero Glide nut — normally a premium upgrade — comes standard, keeping open strings perfectly in tune with fretted notes. Then there’s the dual pickup system: a jazz-style floating humbucker combined with a bridge transducer, blended through a volume knob and a blend control. Whether you want the warmth of the magnetic pickup, the natural acoustic character of the transducer, or some combination of both, this instrument handles amplified performance with sophistication. The adjustable ebony bridge, pakkawood tailpiece, rosewood fingerboard, two-way adjustable truss rod, and chrome hardware round out a feature list that would be impressive at twice the price. It’s part of Gold Tone’s “Folkternative” initiative — their commitment to putting genuinely playable, professional-quality instruments into the hands of players who might otherwise never get there. A hard-shell case is included.

Every mandocello receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before shipping, including checking and adjusting the neck relief via the two-way truss rod, setting the action at the nut and bridge for comfortable playability across the full scale length, verifying intonation, and ensuring the dual pickup system and blend controls are functioning correctly.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell is covered by Gold Tone’s full manufacturer warranty and backed by our own commitment to getting you the right instrument. I’ve been in the fretted instrument business for over 45 years — co-owning Watch & Learn in Atlanta since the 1980s, authoring Banjo Primer, co-designing the OB-Standard with Gold Tone, and working with players at every level from first-timers to touring professionals. I know these instruments deeply, and I don’t list anything I wouldn’t hand-sell in person. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — no late fees — so you can get this instrument in your hands without waiting.

Gold Tone Mandocello Specifications

Handedness	Left-Handed
Nut Width	1-1/2″ Zero Glide Nut
Tuners	Sealed Guitar-Style
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Frets	20
Inlay	Dot
Truss Rod	Two-Way Adjustable
Top	Solid Spruce
Back & Sides	Maple
Binding	Cream ABS
Bridge	Adjustable Ebony Bridge
Tailpiece	Pakkawood with Metal String Retainer
Finish	Tobacco Sunburst / High Gloss
Hardware	Chrome Plated
Pickups	Magnetic Floating Humbucker & Bridge Transducer with Volume Control & Blend Knob
Scale Length	25″
Weight	6.25 lbs.
Tuning	CCGGDDAA
String Gauge	.070w, .044w, .034w, .020w (Doubled)
Case	Hard-Shell Case Included
Body Style	Venetian Cutaway

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this truly configured for left-handed playing, or do I need to flip it myself?

This is a purpose-built left-handed instrument — not a right-handed model that’s been restrung. The nut is slotted for left-hand string spacing, the controls and pickup placement are oriented accordingly, and it arrives ready to play for a lefty. You won’t need to make any modifications.

What does the dual pickup system actually sound like in practice?

The floating humbucker gives you a warm, round, jazz-inflected tone that works beautifully for indoor acoustic performances or studio work where you want some body to the sound. The bridge transducer captures more of the instrument’s natural acoustic resonance — brighter and more transparent. The blend knob lets you dial in any ratio between the two, which is genuinely useful depending on whether you’re playing solo, in an ensemble, or running through a PA. It’s a versatile system for a niche instrument.

How does the mandocello fit into an ensemble — what role does it play?

The mandocello occupies the cello register of the mandolin family, tuned an octave below a standard mandolin. In a mandolin orchestra it provides the low-end foundation the way a cello does in a string quartet. Outside of that context, players use it in Celtic sessions for a deep rhythmic underpinning, in experimental folk and Americana settings, and increasingly in singer-songwriter arrangements where a baritone plucked string voice adds something a guitar simply can’t. It’s a genuinely distinctive sound.

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