Gold Tone The Bell Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Tobacco Burst

I’ve been around acoustic guitars my entire career — long before banjos became my calling — and I can tell you that finding genuine all-solid-wood construction at this price point is genuinely rare. The Gold Tone Bell is one of those instruments that makes you pause when you pick it up. The solid Sitka spruce top gives you that crisp, articulate response that only gets better as the wood opens up over time, while the solid mahogany back and sides wrap everything in a warm midrange bloom that feels rich without ever going muddy. The slope-shoulder body shape is a smart choice: it sits comfortably in your lap, balances beautifully standing up, and keeps the bass response focused so your chord work and single-note runs both come through with clarity. Whether you’re a fingerpicker who wants nuance and dynamics or a strummer who needs projection and punch, this guitar has the acoustic voice to deliver both.

Gold Tone has always been serious about craftsmanship, and The Bell reflects that. This is the Tobacco Burst finish. The slim “D” profile mahogany neck feels natural in the hand — not too chunky, not too thin — and the rosewood fingerboard offers that familiar warmth under your fingertips. At 24 3/4″ scale length, chord stretches are comfortable and string tension stays manageable, which is especially welcome if you’re moving between guitar and banjo or if you’re newer to the instrument. The Fishman pickup with individual tone and volume controls means you can dial in your amplified sound without compromise — Fishman is a name I trust on stage and in the studio. Grover open-gear tuners keep you in tune reliably, and the D’Addario strings it ships with are exactly what I’d put on it myself. The cream ABS binding, ebony bridge, and pearloid dot inlays all add up to a guitar that looks and feels more expensive than it is.

Every instrument receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida before it ships. The guitar arrives ready to play with proper nut, saddle, neck relief, action, and intonation — you won’t need to take it to a shop before your first session.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell is covered by the full manufacturer warranty and backed by Gold Tone’s customer support. I’m Geoff Hohwald — I’ve spent over 45 years in the fretted instrument world, co-founded Watch & Learn in Atlanta back in the 1980s, and wrote Banjo Primer, which has been rated the number-one beginner banjo method for decades. I co-designed the OB-Standard with Gold Tone. I know these instruments at a level most retailers simply don’t, and that knowledge informs everything we stock and how we set it up before it ships. We also make it easy to own: financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — no late fees, no hidden charges. Questions before you buy? Reach out. I actually answer.

Gold Tone The Bell Specifications

Top	Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides	Solid Mahogany
Neck Material	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Bridge	Ebony
Finish	Tobacco Burst Gloss
Scale Length	24 3/4″
Nut Width	1 11/16″
Frets	20
Inlay	Pearloid ABS Dot
Truss Rod	Two-Way Adjustable
Tuners	Grover Open Gear
Tuner Buttons	Nickel
Binding	Cream ABS
Pickup	Fishman with Tone and Volume Control
String Gauge	.012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .054
Tuning	EADGBE (Standard)
Bag	Included

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The Bell compare to laminate-top guitars in the same price range?

It’s a meaningful difference. Laminate tops are engineered wood — they’re stable and consistent, but they don’t resonate the way a solid piece of Sitka spruce does. A solid top vibrates as a single piece of wood, which gives you more dynamic range, better note separation, and a tone that actually improves and opens up the more you play it. At this price, most guitars cut corners and use a laminate top. The Bell doesn’t, and that’s exactly why I’m comfortable recommending it.

Can I plug The Bell into any acoustic amp or PA system?

Yes, absolutely. The Fishman pickup is one of the most trusted acoustic pickup brands in the business, and it’s designed to work with any standard 1/4″ acoustic amp, PA system, or DI box. The onboard tone and volume controls let you shape your plugged-in sound right at the guitar, so you’re not entirely dependent on whatever EQ is available at the venue. It’s a genuinely stage-ready setup.

---

Want to know when new banjos arrive? Join our email list: Sign up here.

---

Videos