Gold Tone MB-850+/L Mandolin-Banjo (Banjolin) Left-Handed with Bag

If you’ve ever heard a banjolin cut through a 1920s string orchestra recording and wondered what that bright, jangly voice was, this is it. The Gold Tone MB-850+/L is the left-handed version of Gold Tone’s flagship mandolin-banjo — and it brings that same cheerful, penetrating tone into a modern, well-built instrument that left-handed players can finally get their hands on without compromise. The mandolin-banjo (or banjolin) was the melodic workhorse of the banjo and mandolin orchestras that packed community halls from roughly 1910 through the early 1930s, and Gold Tone has done a genuinely faithful job of recreating what made those instruments sing. I’ve played a lot of hybrid instruments over the years, and the MB-850+ stands out: the 11-inch rolled brass flat bar tone ring gives it real projection and a warm shimmer on the high end that a plain rim simply can’t match. Tuned GDAE — exactly like a mandolin — it’s immediately at home in Celtic sessions, old-time string bands, jug bands, early jazz, or anywhere a mandolin would fit but you want more cut and a slightly drier, punchier attack.

The construction details here are thoughtful. The maple neck and rosewood fingerboard feel comfortable under the left hand, and the 13-7/8″ scale length sits right in that sweet spot between a standard mandolin scale and a full banjo scale — familiar but not identical. The 1-3/32″ ZeroGlide nut is a nice touch at this price point; it reduces open-string friction and helps keep tuning stable, which matters a lot on an instrument with doubled strings. The 24-bracket 11-inch multi-ply maple rim with flat bar tension hoop is solid and resonant, and the 13-inch maple resonator clips off easily when you want a more open, old-timey sound for parlor playing or acoustic sessions. No Knot tailpiece, chrome hardware, vintage brown high-gloss finish — this is a handsome, well-appointed instrument that looks as good as it sounds. The included gig bag means you’re ready to take it out the door.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means you’re getting a legitimate warranty and a genuine new instrument — not a gray-market import. I’m Geoff Hohwald, and I’ve been working with fretted instruments for more than 45 years. I co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, where I wrote Banjo Primer — still the top-rated beginner banjo method around — and I co-designed the Gold Tone OB-Standard resonator banjo, so when I say I know what makes a Gold Tone instrument worth recommending, that’s not a marketing line. I was Deering Banjo’s number-one dealer back in 1980, and I’ve been helping players find the right instrument ever since. We carry the MB-850+/L because it’s the best left-handed banjolin on the market at anywhere near this price, and because Gold Tone continues to build it with real care. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and longer-term 3, 6, 12, and 24-month plans — no late fees, so you can spread the cost out in a way that works for you.

Gold Tone MB-850+/L Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know how to play mandolin to play the MB-850+/L?

If you already play mandolin, you can pick this up immediately — same tuning, same chord shapes, same scale logic. If you’re coming from banjo or guitar, the GDAE tuning and shorter scale length will take a little adjustment, but the doubled strings and fretted neck make it quite approachable. I’d say anyone comfortable on a fretted instrument can be making music on a banjolin within an hour of picking it up for the first time.

Can I play this openback, or do I need the resonator on?

Absolutely — the resonator on the MB-850+/L is designed to be easily removed, giving you a mellower, more intimate sound that works beautifully for old-time, Celtic, or parlor playing. With the resonator attached you get noticeably more volume and projection, which is what you want for ensemble playing or any situation where you need to be heard. Both configurations are genuinely useful, and it takes only a minute to switch between them.

Is this instrument the same as the right-handed MB-850+ other than the handedness?

Yes — the MB-850+/L is the true mirror-image left-handed version of the standard MB-850+. The nut is cut for left-handed string spacing, the headstock and tuner layout are reversed, and the instrument is built from the ground up for left-handed players rather than being a converted right-handed model. All specs, materials, and features are otherwise identical.

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