Gold Tone OT-800 Mastertone Old Time Tubaphone-Style Banjo with Case

If you’ve spent any time digging into old-time music — really digging in — you’ve probably heard someone describe the tone they’re chasing as “that old Tubaphone sound.” The Gold Tone OT-800 open-back banjo is built specifically around that sound. Taking its cues from the Boston School of banjo making, which represented the pinnacle of the craft during the classic period of roughly 1890 to 1930, this instrument recreates the Tubaphone tone ring in meticulous detail: a square-section brass tube mated to a solid brass rod, all encased in a turned brass sleeve. The result is a layered, resonant voice with pleasing harmonic complexity that sits beautifully in a string band mix. This is the banjo for the player who has moved past entry-level instruments and wants something historically grounded, tonally serious, and genuinely inspiring to pick up every single day.

The OT-800 is built on an 11-inch three-ply maple rim with dual coordinator rods for precise, easy action adjustment — a real-world feature that matters when you’re gigging or recording and need your setup dialed in. The bracket-band design carries the 24 hooks without drilling holes in the rim, which preserves the structural integrity of the wood and contributes measurably to the instrument’s power and sustain. The maple neck sports a bound ebony fretboard with old-time style inlays, 18 frets, and — importantly for clawhammer players — a scoop at the pot end of the neck. That scoop isn’t decorative; it’s there so your wrist has clearance during the downstroke, letting you play harder and longer without fatigue. GT Master Planetary tuners and a ZeroGlide nut keep tuning rock solid, while the No Knot tailpiece and 11-inch Remo Renaissance head complete a package that’s thoughtfully spec’d from end to end. A deluxe arched-top hard case is included.

Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships — nut slot depth, bridge height and placement, head tension, and a complete playability check. The OT-800 arrives playing at its absolute best right out of the case.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

We’re an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means your OT-800 comes with full manufacturer warranty support and the confidence that you’re buying a genuine, new instrument. I’ve been in this business for over 45 years — I co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, wrote Banjo Primer (the top-rated beginner banjo method), and co-designed the Gold Tone OB-Standard, so I know these instruments from the inside out. When I put the OT-800 in the Gold Tone lineup at Banjo Warehouse, it was because I believe it genuinely delivers on the promise of the old-time Tubaphone sound at a price that doesn’t require selling a car. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — no late fees. We want to get a great banjo into your hands without making the money part stressful.

Gold Tone OT-800 Specifications

Headstock Buttons	C-Style
Nut	1-3/16″ ZeroGlide Nut
Tuners	GT Master Planetary
Neck Material	Maple
Fingerboard	Ebony with Scoop
Frets	18
Inlay	Old Time Style
Truss Rod	Two-Way Adjustable
Armrest	Vintage-Style
Binding	White ABS
Brackets	24
Bridge	Maple with Ebony Cap
Coordinator Rods	Dual 11″
Finish	Vintage Brown / High Gloss
Hardware	Chrome Plated
Head	11″ Remo HC Renaissance
Rim	11″ 3-Ply Maple Tubaphone-Style with Bracket Band
Tailpiece	No Knot
Tension Hoop	11″ Notched
Tone Ring	11″ 32-Hole Tubaphone-Style
Scale Length	26-3/16″
Weight	8 lbs.
Strings	.010, .024w, .015, .012, .010
Tuning	gDGBD
Case	Deluxe Arched-Top Hard Case Included
Setup	Professionally set up at the Gold Tone factory in Titusville, Florida

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a Tubaphone tone ring, and how does it affect the sound?

The Tubaphone tone ring was developed during the classic era of American banjo making and is distinct from the more familiar archtop or flathead designs associated with bluegrass. It consists of a square-section brass tube married to a solid brass rod, all housed inside a turned brass sleeve. This construction creates a more complex, overtone-rich sound than a simple flathead ring — a warmer, slightly more mellow voice with good projection that blends exceptionally well in old-time string band settings. If you’ve ever heard a pre-war S.S. Stewart or Fairbanks banjo and wanted that kind of tone, the Tubaphone ring is what you’re hearing.

Is the neck scoop really necessary, and will I notice it if I don’t play clawhammer?

The scoop is a relief cut near the pot end of the fingerboard that gives your right-hand wrist clearance during the clawhammer downstroke. If you play clawhammer with any real force or speed, you’ll notice and appreciate it almost immediately — it allows a more natural wrist angle and reduces fatigue over a long session. If you play fingerstyle, two-finger, or frailing styles that don’t involve the same wrist position, the scoop is essentially invisible; it doesn’t interfere with standard playing at all. It’s one of those features that costs you nothing if you don’t need it and is genuinely valuable if you do.

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