Gold Tone OT-800/L Lefty Old Time Tubaphone-Style Banjo with Case

The Gold Tone OT-800/L is a left-handed old time tubaphone-style open back banjo that pays homage to the great banjos of the classic period from 1890 to 1930, when the Boston School of banjo making was the highest expression of the craft. This is a serious instrument for old-time and clawhammer players who want authentic vintage tone and construction in a new, professionally set up banjo. Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and every OT-800L 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. $1,679.99 with hardshell case included.

Tubaphone Tone Ring and Classic Construction

The heart of the OT-800 is its 32-hole tubaphone-style tone ring. This design produces the warm, complex, overtone-rich sound that old-time players prize. A square-section tube mated to a solid brass rod, encased in a turned brass sleeve, sits on a half-inch maple rim. The result is a tone that is distinctly different from a flathead bluegrass banjo: warmer, rounder, with a woody quality that blends beautifully in an old-time string band.

The authentic bracket band carries the shoes without drilling holes in the rim, which increases power and sustain. Dual 11-inch coordinator rods allow precise action adjustment. The Remo Renaissance head adds warmth and a vintage voice that complements the tubaphone ring perfectly. A no-knot tailpiece anchors the strings in the traditional style.

Built for Clawhammer

The OT-800 is designed specifically for clawhammer and old-time playing. The ebony fingerboard has a scoop at the pot end for hardcore clawhammer technique. Eighteen frets give you everything you need without getting in the way. The old time inlay pattern on the fingerboard is engraved in a vintage style that matches the classic-period aesthetic of the entire instrument. White ABS binding, chrome hardware, and a vintage brown finish complete the look.

Left-Handed Model

This is the left-handed version of the OT-800. The neck, nut, bridge, and string spacing are all configured for left-handed playing. Finding a quality left-handed old-time banjo at this level of construction is difficult. The OT-800L gives left-handed clawhammer players access to tubaphone tone and professional build quality without settling for a converted right-handed instrument.

Watch: Gold Tone OT-800 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 OT-800L 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 OT-800 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 OT-800/L Specifications

What is a tubaphone tone ring?

A tubaphone tone ring is a design from the classic period of banjo making (roughly 1890 to 1930). It consists of a square-section brass tube mated to a solid brass rod, encased in a turned brass sleeve with holes drilled around the circumference. The OT-800 uses a 32-hole version. The tubaphone ring produces a warm, complex tone with rich overtones that old-time players prefer over the brighter, more cutting sound of a flathead bluegrass tone ring. If you play clawhammer, frailing, or old-time styles, this is the tone ring you want.

What is the fingerboard scoop for?

The scoop is a small concave area carved into the fingerboard near the pot, typically at the upper frets. It gives clawhammer players clearance for the downward striking motion of the right hand without the fingers catching on the frets. The OT-800 comes with the scoop pre-carved from the factory. This is a feature that clawhammer players frequently request and often have to pay a luthier to add after purchase.

Is this banjo only for old-time music?

The OT-800 is designed primarily for old-time, clawhammer, and frailing styles. The tubaphone tone ring, open back construction, Renaissance head, and fingerboard scoop are all optimized for that sound. It is not the right choice for bluegrass or Scruggs-style picking. For bluegrass, look at our Gold Tone OB-150 or any of the resonator models in our Gold Tone inventory.

Why is the left-handed version important?

Left-handed banjo players have very few options for quality open back instruments with tubaphone tone rings. Most old-time banjos are only available right-handed, which forces lefties to either play right-handed or convert an instrument. The OT-800L is built left-handed from the factory with the correct neck orientation, nut slot spacing, and string spacing. No conversion required.

Does the OT-800L come with a case?

Yes. Every OT-800L includes a Gold Tone deluxe arched-top hardshell case at no additional charge.

Is financing available?

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.

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.