Left-handed Mastertone™ “Bluegrass Heart” Béla Fleck Signature Banjo with Case

Left-Handed Gold Tone Bluegrass Heart Béla Fleck Signature Banjo

The Gold Tone Bluegrass Heart is Béla Fleck’s signature banjo — developed personally by Béla, Marc Horowitz, and Wayne Rogers to replicate the feel and tone of Béla’s legendary 1937 Style 75 Mastertone. This is the left-handed version, available from Banjo Warehouse.

Finding a left-handed professional banjo at this level is rare. Finding one designed by arguably the greatest living banjo player is rarer still. We have one.

Every Gold Tone banjo is professionally set up at the Gold Tone factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships. Free shipping anywhere in the United States.

Watch: Bryce Dixon Plays the Bluegrass Heart

15-year-old Bryce Dixon from Benson, North Carolina picked up the left-handed Bluegrass Heart at Banjo Warehouse in Yellow Springs and tore it up.

The Story Behind the Banjo

This banjo started as a question: could Gold Tone build a flathead banjo that could serve as a performance-grade backup for Béla Fleck’s irreplaceable 1937 Style 75 Mastertone — the instrument that has defined the sound of progressive banjo for over four decades?

The answer took years. Marc Horowitz — pro banjoist, instrument industry veteran, and Béla’s second banjo teacher — suggested that Gold Tone’s OB-3 “Twanger” pot assembly might be the right starting point. Béla was skeptical at first. But he played the Twanger, went back to it, played it again, and thought: there’s something here.

Over months of collaboration, Béla, Marc, and Wayne Rogers worked through prototypes, swapping tailpieces, bridges, armrests, and tuners. Béla sent Wayne a Gibson prototype neck — an almost perfect copy of his Monteleone neck — and Wayne copied it. The neck profile, the radiused fingerboard, the extra mass — all designed to facilitate Béla’s single-string technique and deepen the tone.

One rule governed the entire process: every component had to be available. No rare, hard-to-find vintage parts. This had to be a banjo that anyone could buy, maintain, and repair.

The result is the Bluegrass Heart — and when Béla picks it up after playing his old flathead, he says “Oh, this is nice.” That’s a big deal, because typically when he picks up anything else, the reaction is the opposite.

The No-Hole Tone Ring

At the heart of the Bluegrass Heart is an 11-inch flat-top, no-hole bell bronze tone ring. Unlike traditional 20-hole flathead tone rings, the no-hole design produces a warmer, fuller sound with a distinctive low-end depth. This is the tone that Béla has been chasing — full-spectrum, warm, and powerful without being harsh.

The Neck

The mahogany neck is built to Béla’s specifications — heftier than a traditional banjo neck, a bit wider and thicker, with a radiused ebony fingerboard (5-10″ compound radius). Béla found that the radius and extra room on the fretboard facilitate single-string techniques, and the additional mass deepens the tone. The Flying Eagle inlay pattern modified with red hearts — customized by Fleck and Rogers — gives the fingerboard its distinctive look. A 1-3/8″ bone nut, 22 frets, and two-way adjustable truss rod complete the neck.

The Tuners

Rickard Cyclone tuners with a 10:1 ratio and custom red-anodized brass buttons. The 10:1 ratio provides far more precision than standard 4:1 planetary tuners. The solid brass buttons aren’t just aesthetic — they add mass to the peghead, which Béla found improves tone. This was an innovation developed by Wayne and Marc specifically for this banjo.

The Pot

The 11-inch 3-ply Canadian maple rim provides a bright, punchy fundamental. A one-piece die cast flange, 11-inch notched tension hoop, and 24 brackets hold the 11-inch Remo HC coated topside head. The Prucha Presto tailpiece — Béla was surprised at how much he liked it — provides clean string transfer. The Little Mountain armrest attaches with two separate hooks, letting the banjo resonate more freely than a traditional armrest. Dual 11-inch coordinator rods. Nickel plated hardware throughout. Mahogany resonator with concentric rings and crème binding.

What’s Included

Hardshell case included. Professional setup at the Gold Tone factory in Titusville, Florida. Free shipping anywhere in the United States.

Call Geoff directly at (404) 218-8580 with any questions.

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Specifications

Neck
Material	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Ebony, 5-10″ Compound Radius
Inlays	Flying Eagle Modifications with Red Hearts (Fleck/Rogers)
Frets	22
Nut Width	1-3/8″ Bone
Truss Rod	Two-Way Adjustable
Tuners	Rickard Cyclone 10:1 Ratio
Tuner Buttons	Custom Red-Anodized Brass

Pot
Rim	11″ 3-Ply Canadian Maple
Tone Ring	11″ Flat Top No-Hole Bell Bronze
Head	11″ Remo HC Coated Topside
Tension Hoop	11″ Notched
Brackets	24
Flange	One Piece Die Cast
Hardware	Nickel Plated
Armrest	Little Mountain Style
Bridge	Maple with Ebony Cap (7/8″)
Tailpiece	Prucha Presto
Coordinator Rods	Dual 11″
Finish	Mahogany Satin

Resonator
Material	Mahogany with Concentric Rings
Binding	Crème

Dimensions & Other
Scale Length	26-3/16″
Weight	11.5 lbs
Strings	.010, .022, .013, .011, .010
Tuning	G, D, G, B, D
Case	Included
Hand	Left-Handed

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Why Buy from Banjo Warehouse?

Banjo Warehouse is located in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Owner Geoff Hohwald has been in the banjo business for over 50 years and is the author of The Banjo Primer. We carry Gold Tone, Deering, OME, and professional-grade banjos from makers across the country. Every banjo ships with free shipping anywhere in the United States.

FAQ

Is the Bluegrass Heart available left-handed?

Yes. This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone Bluegrass Heart Béla Fleck Signature Banjo, available from Banjo Warehouse. Left-handed professional banjos at this level are extremely rare — most manufacturers don’t offer them.

How does the Bluegrass Heart compare to Béla Fleck’s actual banjo?

The Bluegrass Heart was developed by Béla Fleck, Marc Horowitz, and Wayne Rogers specifically to replicate the feel and tone of Béla’s 1937 Style 75 Mastertone — his primary instrument for over 40 years. The neck profile, radiused fingerboard, and overall mass were all designed to match Béla’s original as closely as possible using modern, available components.

What is a no-hole tone ring?

A no-hole tone ring is a flat-top bell bronze tone ring without the holes found in traditional 20-hole flathead designs. The no-hole design produces a warmer, fuller sound with more low-end depth — it’s the tone profile that Béla Fleck favors for his full-spectrum playing style.

What is the radiused fingerboard for?

The 5-10″ compound radius on the ebony fingerboard arches slightly across its width, similar to what you find on most electric and modern acoustic guitars. Béla found that this radius and the wider neck facilitate single-string techniques and provide more room on the fretboard for complex playing.

Does the Bluegrass Heart come with a case?

Yes. The Bluegrass Heart includes a hardshell case. When purchased from Banjo Warehouse, it also comes with free shipping.