Gold Tone WL-250 Mastertone White Ladye Banjo with Case

If you’ve spent any time in old-time music circles, you know the reverence players have for the original A.C. Fairbanks White Laydie and Electric banjos. These Victorian-era instruments — produced in Boston starting in the late 1800s — are among the most sought-after banjos in the world, both for their stunning aesthetics and for a tone that is genuinely unlike anything else: bright, singing, and surprisingly loud for an open-back instrument. The Gold Tone WL-250 Mastertone captures that spirit beautifully. At the heart of it is the 11-inch White Ladye tone ring — that distinctive scalloped design first patented by A.C. Fairbanks between 1890 and 1895 as the “Electric” ring and later inseparably associated with the White Laydie model. It produces exactly the kind of clear, cutting, well-projected tone that old-time fiddlers love to play alongside and that clawhammer players spend years chasing.

The WL-250 is built for players who want a historically informed instrument that can hold its own on stage or at a session without requiring a museum budget. The maple neck carries an ebony fingerboard with a scoop for frailing comfort, elegant cloud inlays, and an 18-fret layout. Gold Tone’s planetary tuners hold tuning reliably across a long night of playing, and the ZeroGlide nut helps with open-string intonation and smooth action. Dual 11-inch coordinator rods, a notched tension hoop, a No-Knot tailpiece, and an 11-inch Remo HC Renaissance head round out a spec sheet that reflects genuine thought about what old-time players actually need. The vintage brown high-gloss finish and white ABS binding give the instrument that classic, clean look that is unmistakably in the White Laydie lineage. This banjo comes with a hard case — not a gig bag — which tells you something about how seriously Gold Tone takes this model.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every WL-250 we sell comes with the full manufacturer warranty and the confidence that you’re getting a genuine, properly supported instrument. I’ve been in this industry for more than 45 years — I co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, wrote Banjo Primer (consistently rated the number-one beginner banjo method), and co-designed the Gold Tone OB-Standard — so when I say this is a well-built old-time banjo at a fair price, I mean it from experience, not from a catalog. We also want to make sure cost is never a barrier to getting the right instrument: financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and installment plans ranging from 3 to 24 months with no late fees. Questions about the WL-250 before you order? Reach out — we’re happy to talk banjos.

Gold Tone WL-250 Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the White Ladye tone ring differ from a bluegrass-style tone ring?

The White Ladye ring is a scalloped, lightweight design — very different from the heavy cast brass or bronze archtop rings used in bluegrass banjos. It produces a brighter, more transparent tone with excellent projection but without the dense, punchy sustain of a bluegrass setup. That character is exactly what old-time and clawhammer players are after: a sound that sits well with fiddles and other acoustic instruments in a session or dance context. If you’ve been playing a resonator bluegrass banjo and you’re curious what a proper old-time open-back sounds like, the WL-250 is a great place to find out.

Is the WL-250 appropriate for a player who is moving up from an entry-level open-back banjo?

Absolutely — this is one of the best mid-range old-time banjos on the market for exactly that transition. If you’ve been playing something like a Gold Tone CC-OT or similar entry-level open-back and you’re ready for a more historically informed instrument with better hardware, a proper tone ring, and professional-grade playability, the WL-250 hits that mark well. The professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory means you won’t be dealing with high action or intonation issues right out of the box, which is unfortunately common with banjos at any price point that haven’t been properly adjusted.

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