Gold Tone OB-2AT Mastertone Bowtie Banjo with Case

If you’ve spent any time studying the golden age of the Mastertone, you know the bowtie era — roughly 1960 to mid-1964 — occupies a very particular and revered place in that history. I’ve played and handled a lot of original bowtie banjos over my 45-plus years in this industry, and what sets them apart is a combination of factors that rarely all showed up in the same instrument at the same time. The craftsmen in Kalamazoo were still the same people who had built banjos there in the 1930s, and critically, the tone rings were still being cast by the same foundry that supplied them before the war. Gold Tone’s OB-2AT captures that specific window in time, built around the era-correct 19-hole flathead bell brass tone ring — distinct from the earlier 20-hole version — along with a full-thickness 3-ply maple rim, one-piece cast flange, and nickel-plated hardware that mirrors what those original instruments carried. This is not a generic tribute; it is a careful, historically informed reproduction of the bowtie Mastertone at its absolute peak.

The mahogany neck is fitted with a genuine ebony fingerboard — a premium touch you feel every time you play — and the Gold Tone bowtie inlay pattern is executed with real attention to period accuracy. Gotoh planetary tuners with custom bowtie buttons give you smooth, reliable tuning that stays put under playing conditions, while the bone nut at 1-1/4″ width provides a traditional feel under the left hand. The 14″ mahogany resonator wears a cream ABS binding and a Golden Sunburst finish that has genuine warmth and depth. Dual 11″ coordinator rods, a notched tension hoop, a Presto tailpiece, and a 5/8″ Dotson bridge round out a spec sheet that reads like it was pulled straight from an original Gibson factory order form. The 11″ Remo Hydralic Coated head gives you that tight, focused Scruggs-era tone right out of the case. This instrument ships with a hardshell case included — not a bag, a case — which tells you something about how Gold Tone thinks about this model.

Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships. That means head tension dialed in, bridge placement verified, action set to a comfortable playing height, and intonation checked across the neck. When you open that case at home, this banjo is ready to play — not a project.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every OB-2AT we sell comes with the full manufacturer warranty and the confidence that you’re buying a genuine, properly sourced instrument. I co-designed the OB-Standard with Gold Tone, so my relationship with their team goes well beyond a dealer agreement — I’ve been inside their process, and I trust what they build. I’ve been in this industry since the late 1970s, co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta since the 1980s, wrote Banjo Primer (still the number-one-rated beginner method), and was Deering Banjo’s number-one dealer in 1980. I say all of that not to impress you, but so you know there’s genuine expertise behind every recommendation we make here. If you have questions about the OB-2AT — how it compares to an original, how it sits next to other professional-grade options, whether it’s the right instrument for where you are in your playing — call us or shoot us a message. We love these conversations. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, and 24-month plans with no late fees, so you can bring home a serious instrument without a serious cash outlay all at once.

Gold Tone OB-2AT Specifications

Tone Ring	11″ Flat Top — 19-Hole — Bell Brass
Rim	11″ 3-Ply Maple (Full Thickness)
Flange	One-Piece Cast
Head	11″ Remo HC Coated Topside
Tension Hoop	11″ Notched
Brackets	24
Coordinator Rods	Dual 11″
Tailpiece	Presto
Bridge	5/8″ Dotson
Hardware	Nickel Plated
Neck Material	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Ebony
Frets	22
Inlay	Gold Tone Bowtie
Nut Width	1-1/4″ Bone
Tuners	Gotoh Planetary with Custom Bowtie Buttons
Truss Rod	Two-Way Adjustable
Resonator	14″ Mahogany
Binding	Cream ABS
Finish	Golden Sunburst
Armrest	Fits All GT Plain
Scale Length	26-3/16″
Tuning	GDGBD (Standard)
String Gauge	.009, .022w, .013, .011, .009
Weight	13 lbs.
Case	Hardshell Case Included

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the 19-hole tone ring on the OB-2AT historically significant?

The shift from a 20-hole to a 19-hole flathead tone ring happened during the bowtie era — roughly 1960 to mid-1964 — and players and collectors have long associated that specific ring configuration with some of the most responsive and musical flathead Mastertones ever produced. The 19-hole design alters the mass distribution of the ring in subtle but audible ways, contributing to a slightly more open, resonant low end with clear, bell-like treble response. Gold Tone had this ring cast in bell brass, the traditional alloy of the originals, and it is genuinely the centerpiece of what makes the OB-2AT sound the way it does.

How does the OB-2AT compare to an original bowtie-era Gibson Mastertone?

Original bowtie Mastertones in good playing condition routinely sell for $10,000 to $20,000 or more, and finding one that hasn’t been modified, refinished, or repaired is increasingly rare. The OB-2AT gives you the historically accurate spec — 19-hole bell brass tone ring, full-thickness rim, one-piece cast flange, nickel hardware, ebony board — at a fraction of that price, with a new instrument’s consistency and a full warranty. For most players, even serious professionals, the OB-2AT delivers the tonal character of that era without the cost, the risk, or the hunt.

Does the OB-2AT come ready to play, or will I need to have it set up?

Every OB-2AT ships with a professional factory setup from Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida. Head tension, bridge placement, action, and intonation are all dialed in before the banjo ships. It arrives in playing condition — you can tune it up and start playing immediately.

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