Gold Tone OB-12 Top Tension Custom Banjo, Carved Interior Resonator
$3,749.99
This Gold Tone OB-12 Top Tension is a Banjo Warehouse exclusive: Greg Rich’s top tension design with the inside of the walnut resonator carved, so the back is thinner than on the standard OB-12. It has the pre-war formula brass flathead tone ring, a walnut neck and a Prucha Presto tailpiece. It is new, ships in its case, and gets a complete setup by our banjo tech Tara before it ships. Call or text us at (404) 218-8580 with any questions.
In stock
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 Gold Tone OB-12 Top Tension Banjo Demo | Carved Interior Resonator, Played by Geoff Hohwald, opens a video playerAt a Glance
- Handedness
- Right-Handed
- Style
- Resonator Banjo
- Strings
- 5
- Scale Length
- 26-1/4"
- Tone Ring
- Brass
- Pickup
- No
- Made In
- China
This OB-12 Top Tension is a Banjo Warehouse exclusive. It is a Gold Tone OB-12, the top tension banjo designed by Greg Rich, with one change: the inside of the resonator is carved. The first run of OB-12s, shipping since June, has a resonator that is flat on the inside. On this build a lot of that wood has been taken out, so the back is thinner. Only the back is different, and it is still solid walnut with no laminations.
The photos show an earlier banjo of this same build. Walnut grain varies from banjo to banjo.
Gold Tone explains the idea this way: the top tension banjos of the 1930s had resonators that curved on the outside and were left flat on the inside, about half an inch thick. Carving the inside to follow the outside leaves a solid back that is free to resonate, in the way the carved back of an archtop guitar does.
This banjo is new, and it ships in its case. It is covered by Gold Tone’s lifetime limited warranty to the original owner.
This instrument receives a complete professional setup by our banjo tech Tara at Banjo Warehouse in Yellow Springs, Ohio before it ships.
Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse
Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer in Yellow Springs, Ohio, so you are buying from a source Gold Tone trusts. Gold Tone thanks Geoff Hohwald of Banjo Warehouse for the banjos used in modeling the OB-12 Top Tension. Tara sets up every instrument that leaves our shop, by hand, before it goes in the box. We offer flexible financing through PayPal Pay in 4 with options for 4 interest-free payments or 3, 6, 12, or 24 month plans with no late fees, plus Afterpay. Questions before you buy? Call or text us at (404) 218-8580.
Gold Tone OB-12 Top Tension Specifications, Carved Interior Resonator
| Resonator | 14″ walnut, carved inside and out, solid back |
| Neck | Walnut |
| Truss Rod | Two-way adjustable |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood, 12″ radius |
| Frets | 22 |
| Inlay | Art Deco Style 12 |
| Nut | Bone, 1-1/4″ |
| Tuners | Gotoh planetary |
| Scale Length | 26-1/4″ |
| Rim | 11″ three-ply maple |
| Tone Ring | Pre-war formula brass flathead |
| Head | 11″ Remo coated |
| Tension Hoop | 11″ top tension style |
| Brackets | 24 |
| Flange | One piece cast |
| Hardware | Nickel plated |
| Armrest | Top tension armrest |
| Tailpiece | Prucha Presto |
| Binding | White with black |
| Finish | Vintage Brown, high gloss |
| Designer | Greg Rich |
| Handedness | Right-handed |
| Strings | 5 |
| Tuning | gDGBD |
| Case | Included |
| Setup | Professional setup by our banjo tech Tara in Yellow Springs, Ohio |
Videos
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this banjo different from the standard Gold Tone OB-12?
The resonator. The standard Gold Tone OB-12 Top Tension has a resonator that is flat on the inside. On this banjo the inside of the resonator back is carved, which leaves the back thinner. The neck, rim, tone ring and hardware are the OB-12 spec. It is a Banjo Warehouse exclusive, and we carry the standard OB-12 too.
What does carving the inside of the resonator do?
Gold Tone’s view is that a thick back that is flat on the inside mostly reflects sound, while a back carved on both sides is free to resonate and adds to the tone. Geoff played a carved-interior OB-12 back to back with a standard OB-12 so you can hear both and judge for yourself.
Who designed the OB-12?
Greg Rich. The OB-12 Top Tension is his first design since joining Gold Tone, a tribute to the Gibson top tension banjos of the late 1930s, with a walnut neck and resonator and a pre-war formula brass flathead tone ring.
Be the first to review “Gold Tone OB-12 Top Tension Custom Banjo, Carved Interior Resonator”
You must be logged in to post a review.
More Bluegrass Resonator Banjos
The Gold Tone OB-3RF is a meticulous recreation of JD Crowe's legendary RB-3 "Banger," built in collaboration with Banjo Ben Clark, Jake Stogdill, and Robby Boone to capture every pre-war detail — from the "No Hole" bell brass flat-top tone ring to the slanted resonator walls, Presto tailpiece, and vintage leaf-and-bowes inlay. The result is a focused, cutting tone with tightened sustain that sets it apart from every other banjo in Gold Tone's catalog, all housed in a brown mahogany finish with nickel hardware that looks as authentic as it sounds. Every OB-3RF arrives factory set up by Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida, and includes an archtop hardshell case.
A used mid-2000s Clancy Mullins banjo, a copy of a prewar Gibson style 1 conversion, with a curly maple neck and resonator and a hardshell case.
A 2015 Davis Concord Prototype five-string resonator banjo made by Tim Davis, with a specially designed wide neck, a curly maple neck and resonator, a three ply hard rock maple rim and a Davis 20 hole bell brass tone ring.
A used 2004 Crafters of Tennessee Tradition five-string banjo from Mark Taylor, with a mahogany neck and resonator, a three ply hard rock maple rim and an arch top tone ring. Set up by our banjo technician Tara, with a functional hardshell case.
The Deering Sierra in its mahogany configuration: a quartersawn mahogany neck and mahogany resonator over a 3-ply violin grade maple rim with the Deering -06- bell bronze tone ring. Mahogany gives the Sierra a warmer, rounder voice than the maple version. About 11 lbs, made in Spring Valley, California, with a Deering lifetime warranty. $3,499 with free shipping.
The OB-Standard Deluxe is a Banjo Warehouse exclusive: all the specs of the Gold Tone OB-Standard with gold plated hardware. It has the double-cut peghead, Hearts and Flowers inlay and a 20-hole bell brass flathead tone ring. It is new, ships in its case, and gets a complete setup by our banjo tech Tara before it ships. Call or text us at 404-218-8580 with any questions.
A used, all original 1962 Gibson RB-250 bowtie banjo with a mahogany neck and resonator, a raised head tone ring and a triangle window pane tailpiece.
A brand-new Deering Sierra in the maple configuration, Deering's most popular professional banjo for over thirty years. Quartersawn maple neck, A-grade ebony fingerboard, and the Deering -06 bell bronze tone ring for a bright, cutting bluegrass tone. Made in the USA with a lifetime warranty, professionally set up by our banjo tech Tara, and shipped in a hardshell case with free US shipping.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.