Gold Tone OB-Grandee Orange Blossom Grandee Banjo with Case
$ 3,199.99
The Gold Tone OB-Grandee is Gold Tone’s tribute to the Gibson Granada, the holy grail of pre-war banjos. Gold-plated engraved hardware, Hearts and Flowers inlay on ebony fingerboard, sand-cast bell brass tone ring, 3-ply Canadian maple rim, one-piece cast flange, Prucha clamshell tailpiece, Gotoh planetary tuners, Snuffy Smith bridge. Flamed curly maple resonator with vintage sunburst finish. 10.2 lbs. Professionally set up at Banjo Warehouse in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Hardshell case included.
In stock
The Gold Tone OB-Grandee is Gold Tone’s tribute to the Gibson Granada, the holy grail of pre-war banjos. It is the top of the Orange Blossom Mastertone series and the most ornate production banjo Gold Tone makes. Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and every OB-Grandee we sell is inspected and set up by our banjo tech Tara before it ships. Tara trained at the Huber Banjo factory in Hendersonville, Tennessee under Steve Huber and Bennie Boling. $3,199.99 with hardshell case included.
What Makes the OB-Grandee Special
Everything about this banjo is designed to evoke the Granada-style instruments that have become some of the most sought-after banjos ever made. Gold-plated and engraved hardware throughout, including a Grandee-engraved armrest and a Grandee-engraved notched tension hoop. Hearts and Flowers mother-of-pearl inlay on an ebony fingerboard. A curly maple neck and a 14-inch maple resonator with a vintage brown high-gloss finish. Cream ABS binding on the neck and resonator.
Under all of that visual beauty is the same professional-grade construction as the rest of the Orange Blossom series: an 11-inch 3-ply Canadian maple rim, a 20-hole flat top bell brass sand-cast tone ring, a one-piece cast flange, dual 11-inch coordinator rods, and 24 brackets. This is the foundation that produces the crisp attack, bright sustain, and forward projection that bluegrass players demand.
Premium Hardware and Appointments
The OB-Grandee goes beyond the standard Orange Blossom hardware package. It comes equipped with a Prucha clamshell tailpiece rather than the Terminator tailpiece found on other models. Gotoh planetary tuners with C-Style buttons provide smooth, precise tuning. The bridge is a 5/8-inch Dotson. The two-way adjustable truss rod, bone nut at 1-1/4 inches, and 22 frets on ebony give you professional playability to match the professional tone.
Watch: Gold Tone OB-Grandee Demo
Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse
Banjo Warehouse has been an authorized Gold Tone dealer since Wayne Rogers founded the company. Geoff Hohwald, our owner, collaborated directly with Gold Tone and designer Greg Rich on the development of the OB-12, OB-Standard, and other models. When you buy a Gold Tone from us, you are buying from people who know these instruments inside and out.
Every OB-Grandee we sell is professionally set up by our banjo tech Tara before it ships. Tara trained at the Huber Banjo factory under Steve Huber and Bennie Boling. Gold Tone also sets up every OB-Grandee at their factory in Titusville, Florida. That means your banjo has been through two professional setups before it reaches you. Hardshell case included.
Financing available: PayPal Pay in 4 on all orders. Afterpay available for instruments under $4,000 with options for 4 interest-free payments or 3, 6, 12, or 24 month plans with no late fees.
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Gold Tone OB-Grandee Specifications
| Headstock Buttons | C-Style |
| Nut Width | 1-1/4″ Bone |
| Tuners | Gotoh Planetary |
| Fingerboard | Ebony |
| Frets | 22 |
| Inlay | Hearts & Flowers with Mastertone |
| Neck Material | Curly Maple |
| Truss Rod | Two-Way Adjustable |
| Armrest | Grandee Engraved |
| Binding | Cream ABS |
| Brackets | 24 |
| Bridge | 5/8″ Dotson |
| Coordinator Rods | Dual 11″ |
| Finish | Vintage Brown / High Gloss |
| Flange | One-Piece Cast |
| Hardware | Gold Plated |
| Head | 11″ Remo HC Coated Topside |
| Resonator | 14″ Maple |
| Rim | 11″ 3-Ply Canadian Maple |
| Tailpiece | Prucha Clamshell |
| Tension Hoop | 11″ Notched Grandee Engraving |
| Tone Ring | 11″ Flat Top, 20-Hole, Bell Brass Sand-Cast |
| Scale Length | 26-3/16″ |
| Weight | 10.2 lbs |
| Strings | .009, .020w, .013, .011, .009 |
| Tuning | GDGBD |
| Case | Gold Tone Hardshell Case Included |
| Origin | Made in China, set up in Titusville FL and Yellow Springs OH |
OB-Grandee vs. OB-300: What is the Difference?
| Feature | OB-Grandee ($3,199.99) | OB-300 ($3,199.99) |
|---|---|---|
| Inlay Pattern | Hearts & Flowers | Modified Tree of Life |
| Fingerboard | Ebony | Ebony |
| Neck | Curly Maple | Curly Maple |
| Resonator | 14″ Flamed Curly Maple | 14″ Flamed Maple with Pearl/Abalone Inlay |
| Tone Ring | 20-Hole Bell Brass Sand-Cast | 20-Hole Bell Bronze Sand-Cast |
| Tailpiece | Prucha Clamshell | Presto |
| Bridge | 5/8″ Dotson | 5/8″ Dotson |
| Tuners | Gotoh Planetary | GT Master Planetary |
| Nut | 1-1/4″ Bone | 1-3/16″ ZeroGlide |
| Tension Hoop | Notched Grandee Engraved | Notched |
| Binding | Cream ABS | Flamed Maple |
| Finish | Vintage Brown / High Gloss | Vintage Brown / High Gloss |
| Hardware | Gold Plated | Triple Plated Gold |
| Weight | 10.2 lbs | 13 lbs |
Both the OB-Grandee and the OB-300 are priced at $3,199.99 and share the same professional foundation: 3-ply maple rim, one-piece cast flange, 24 brackets, dual coordinator rods, and curly maple neck with ebony fingerboard. The OB-Grandee is the Granada tribute with a Prucha clamshell tailpiece, Gotoh tuners, bone nut, and Hearts and Flowers inlay. The OB-300 is the gold-plated beauty with a modified tree of life inlay, resonator artwork, Presto tailpiece, and GT Master tuners. Both are stage-ready professional instruments. The choice comes down to which appointments and aesthetic speak to you.
What is the Gold Tone OB-Grandee modeled after?
The OB-Grandee is Gold Tone’s tribute to the Gibson Granada, one of the most famous and valuable pre-war banjos ever made. Original Granadas from the 1930s regularly sell for $100,000 or more. The OB-Grandee captures the Granada’s visual identity (gold-plated hardware, Hearts and Flowers inlay, ornate engraving) and its tonal foundation (bell brass tone ring, 3-ply maple rim, one-piece cast flange) at a fraction of the cost.
How does the OB-Grandee compare to the OB-150?
The OB-150 at $1,299.99 shares the same core construction (20-hole bell brass tone ring, 3-ply maple rim, one-piece cast flange) but with standard appointments. The OB-Grandee adds gold-plated hardware, Gotoh planetary tuners, a Prucha clamshell tailpiece, a Dotson bridge, ebony fingerboard with Hearts and Flowers inlay, a flamed curly maple resonator, and Grandee-engraved armrest and tension hoop. The tonal foundation is the same; the OB-Grandee upgrades every visible component to professional show-level appointments.
Does the OB-Grandee come with a case?
Yes. Every OB-Grandee includes a Gold Tone hardshell case at no additional charge.
Is financing available for the OB-Grandee?
Yes. PayPal Pay in 4 is available on all orders. Afterpay is available for instruments under $4,000 with options for 4 interest-free payments or 3, 6, 12, or 24 month payment plans with no late fees. At $3,199.99, the OB-Grandee qualifies for all of these options.
What warranty does the OB-Grandee carry?
Gold Tone includes a transferable lifetime warranty on the OB-Grandee. The warranty covers manufacturing defects and is transferable to subsequent owners. Gold Tone’s customer service is excellent and we stand behind every instrument we sell.
Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Geoff Hohwald has been selling banjos since 1980 and is the author of The Banjo Primer. Every instrument ships with a professional setup by our banjo tech Tara.
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