Gold Tone OB-2/L Mastertone Bowtie Banjo with Case (Left-Handed)
$ 2,099.99
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone OB-2 Mastertone Bowtie — a historically inspired flathead banjo celebrating the legendary bowtie era of 1960 to mid-1964, complete with a rare 19-hole bell brass tone ring, ebony fingerboard, and nickel-plated hardware. Built for serious left-handed players who want authentic vintage Mastertone character at a price that doesn’t require a museum budget. Every OB-2/L ships with a professional factory setup from Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida and includes a hard case.
In stock
Let me be straight with you: the Gold Tone OB-2/L is one of the most historically faithful tribute banjos I’ve encountered at this price point, and the fact that it’s available in a proper left-handed configuration makes it even more special. This is the left-handed version of the OB-2, built to honor a very specific and often-overlooked window in banjo history — the bowtie era from 1960 to mid-1964. During those years, Gibson’s Kalamazoo shop was still staffed by craftsmen who had been building banjos there since the pre-war days, and the tone rings were still being cast by the same foundry that supplied them before World War II. The result was a banjo with a full-thickness rim, nickel-plated hardware, and a unique 19-hole flathead tone ring — a departure from the earlier 20-hole design — that produced a tone with its own distinct character. Gold Tone has recreated all of that with genuine care, and they brought me into the conversation on the OB-Standard platform years ago, so I know firsthand how seriously this team approaches these instruments.
The OB-2/L wears its heritage on its sleeve with the signature bowtie inlay pattern on an ebony fingerboard, a Golden Sunburst finish over a mahogany neck and 14-inch mahogany resonator, and a one-piece cast flange that keeps everything tight and resonant. The 11-inch bell brass flathead tone ring — 19-hole, just like the originals from that era — sits on a 3-ply maple rim with 24 brackets and a notched tension hoop. Gotoh planetary tuners with custom buttons give you smooth, reliable tuning stability, and the Presto tailpiece and 5/8-inch Dotson bridge round out a setup that’s dialed in for bluegrass right out of the box. For left-handed players, finding a banjo at this level of historical authenticity has historically meant special orders or compromises — this one is built the right way from the start, with the headstock, neck, and body all configured for the left hand.
Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships. That means checking the neck angle and head tension, adjusting the coordinator rods, fitting and seating the bridge precisely, setting the string height at the nut and bridge for comfortable playability, and making sure the tone ring is properly seated. By the time this banjo reaches you, it plays like it should — not like something that just came out of a shipping box from overseas.
Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse
Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means you’re covered by the full manufacturer’s warranty and you’re buying a genuine instrument — not a gray-market copy or a diverted unit. I’ve been in this industry for over 45 years, and I co-designed the Gold Tone OB-Standard, so when I say this OB-2 is the real deal, that’s not a marketing line — it’s a professional assessment. I’ve also been cited on Wikipedia for Banjo Roll and Scruggs Style, authored Banjo Primer (the top-rated beginner banjo method). I know what a good banjo should do, and I wouldn’t put the Banjo Warehouse name on an instrument I didn’t stand behind. We offer flexible financing through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, and 24-month payment plans — all with no late fees — so you can get into the banjo you actually want without waiting.
Gold Tone OB-2/L Specifications
| Handedness | Left-Handed |
| Tuning | G D G B D |
| Scale Length | 26-3/16″ |
| Nut Width | 1-1/4″ Bone |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Ebony |
| Frets | 22 |
| Inlay | Gold Tone Bowtie |
| Truss Rod | Two-Way Adjustable |
| Tuners | Gotoh Planetary with Custom Buttons |
| Headstock Buttons | Custom Gotoh |
| Rim | 11″ 3-Ply Maple |
| Tone Ring | 11″ Flat Top — 19-Hole Bell Brass |
| Head | 11″ Remo HC Coated Topside |
| Brackets | 24 |
| Tension Hoop | 11″ Notched |
| Flange | One-Piece Cast |
| Resonator | 14″ Mahogany |
| Binding | Cream ABS |
| Finish | Golden Sunburst |
| Hardware | Nickel Plated |
| Bridge | 5/8″ Dotson |
| Tailpiece | Presto |
| Coordinator Rods | Dual 11″ |
| Armrest | Fits All GT Plain |
| String Gauge | .009, .022w, .013, .011, .009 |
| Weight | 13 lbs. |
| Case | Included |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the 19-hole tone ring on the OB-2 different from a standard flathead ring?
The 19-hole configuration is historically specific to the bowtie-era Gibson Mastertones made between 1960 and mid-1964. Earlier flatheads used a 20-hole ring. The 19-hole bell brass ring on the OB-2 produces a tone that many players describe as slightly warmer and rounder than the pre-war 20-hole design, while still delivering the crisp, cutting projection you need for bluegrass. Gold Tone cast this ring to match the originals from that period, and it’s one of the details that separates the OB-2 from a generic flathead copy.
Is this banjo actually configured left-handed throughout, or is it just a restrung right-handed instrument?
This is a purpose-built left-handed banjo — the OB-2/L — not a right-handed model with the strings flipped. The neck is cut and fretted for left-hand play, the headstock is oriented correctly, and the body is assembled for a left-handed player. Left-handed players deserve an instrument that’s built for them from the start, not an awkward workaround, and that’s exactly what the OB-2/L delivers.
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