OME Vintage Ikon Resonator Banjo — Satin Finish, Vintage Tone Ring
The OME Vintage Ikon is a professional-grade bluegrass resonator banjo featuring OME’s vintage tone ring, 5A flamed maple construction, a hand-rubbed satin finish, and art deco pearl-and-abalone inlays. It is one of two configurations of the Ikon — the first bluegrass resonator production model from OME, the oldest active banjo manufacturer in the United States, building banjos continuously since 1960. Pre-order now at $5,499.99 from Banjo Warehouse in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Established by Chuck Ogsbury in Boulder, Colorado in 1960, OME is now produced under Gold Tone Music Group in Titusville, Florida. The Vintage Ikon carries that 60+ year legacy forward with a high-performance, stage-ready instrument voiced for the player who wants a warmer, more traditional tone.
The Ikon is offered in two configurations. This listing is the Vintage Ikon — a vintage tone ring paired with a satin finish for a warmer, more old-school voice and an understated look. Want maximum prewar bark and a formal high-gloss shine? See the OME Ikon with JLS tone ring at $5,999.99.
Pre-order now — estimated delivery approximately September–October 2026. Every OME Vintage Ikon we sell ships with a professional setup by our banjo tech Tara. Call Geoff directly at (404) 218-8580 with any questions.
A note on the photos: the images shown here are of the high-gloss Ikon. The Vintage Ikon is identical in every way except its hand-rubbed satin finish and vintage tone ring — dedicated satin photos are coming soon.
The Vintage Tone Ring
The Vintage Ikon is built around OME’s vintage tone ring — voiced for a warmer, rounder, more traditional tone than a modern bright flathead. Paired with the 3-ply maple rim, it delivers a smooth, woody low-end and a mellow, old-school character that suits classic bluegrass and old-time playing alike.
Prefer the bright, powerful, prewar-Mastertone bark of a bell-bronze flathead? That’s the OME Ikon, which pairs the JLS 20-hole sand-cast bell-bronze tone ring with a high-gloss finish.
The Neck
The 5A flamed maple neck carries an ebony fingerboard with art deco-style pearl and abalone inlays — a design unique to OME that gives the Ikon its distinctive vintage character. The OME Deco headstock shape with matching pearl and abalone inlay completes the look.
Cyclone tuners (nickel) with tortoise buttons provide a 10:1 ratio for precise, buttery-smooth tuning. A 2-way adjustable truss rod, a 10-inch radius fingerboard, 22 nickel frets, ebony heel cap, bone nut at 1.3125″ width, and dot position markers on the side round out the neck specs.
The Pot
The 11-inch 3-ply maple rim pairs with a notched nickel tension hoop and nickel hooks with ball-end nuts. A custom OME one-piece cast flange, flamed maple armrest, Remo frosted high-collar head, and OME custom bridge complete the assembly. The nickel OME harp tailpiece is designed for clean string transfer with no unwanted overtones. Dual 2-way adjustable coordinator rods give you full control over neck angle and action.
The Resonator
The resonator is highly figured 5A flamed maple with tortoise binding, wrapped in a hand-rubbed satin finish for a warm, understated look. The tortoise rim cap ties it together with the tortoise tuner buttons and binding.
Satin vs. High-Gloss: Which Ikon Is Right for You?
Both models share the same 5A flamed maple body, hardware, and appointments. This Vintage Ikon wears a hand-rubbed satin finish with OME’s vintage tone ring — the choice for a warmer, more old-school voice and an understated look. It also ships a few weeks sooner and saves you $500. The OME Ikon wears a brilliant high-gloss finish and the JLS 20-hole bell-bronze tone ring for a bright, powerful, prewar-Mastertone bark.
The OME Legacy
Chuck Ogsbury built his first banjos in 1960 — 100 long-neck, aluminum-pot instruments sold for $72 to $79 apiece. From there, he developed the ODE brand, which was sold to Baldwin in 1966. In 1970, he started fresh with OME, and the company has been building banjos continuously ever since.
In 2023, Wayne Rogers of Gold Tone Music Group acquired OME with a commitment to continue Chuck’s legacy. The Ikon is the first bluegrass resonator model produced under that partnership — and it’s worth the wait.
What’s Included
Case included. Professional setup by our banjo tech Tara. Free shipping anywhere in the United States.
Financing available: PayPal Pay in 4 on our website. Need more options? Reverb offers Affirm, eBay offers Klarna.
Pre-order now — estimated delivery approximately September–October 2026. Full payment required at time of order.
Call Geoff directly at (404) 218-8580 with any questions.
Why Buy from Banjo Warehouse?
Banjo Warehouse is located in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Owner Geoff Hohwald has over 50 years in the banjo business and is the author of The Banjo Primer. Every banjo ships with a professional setup by our banjo tech Tara and free shipping anywhere in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OME Vintage Ikon?
The Vintage Ikon is one of two configurations of the OME Ikon — the first bluegrass resonator production model from OME, the oldest active banjo manufacturer in the United States. The Vintage Ikon pairs OME’s vintage tone ring with a satin finish for a warmer, more traditional voice. The standard Ikon uses the JLS 20-hole bell-bronze tone ring and a high-gloss finish.
What’s the difference between the Ikon and the Vintage Ikon?
Both share the same 5A flamed maple body, hardware, and appointments. The Vintage Ikon has a vintage tone ring and a satin finish ($5,499.99). The Ikon has the JLS 20-hole bell-bronze tone ring and a high-gloss finish ($5,999.99), and carries about a 3-week longer lead time.
Is OME still made in the USA?
Yes. OME Banjos has been building instruments in the United States continuously since 1960 — longer than any other active banjo manufacturer in the country. Production is now based in Titusville, Florida under Gold Tone Music Group.
When will the OME Vintage Ikon ship?
The Vintage Ikon is available for pre-order with an estimated delivery of approximately September–October 2026. Full payment is required at time of order. Every one ships with a professional setup by our banjo tech Tara.
Contact Banjo Warehouse
For detailed descriptions or to chat about banjos, call Geoff Hohwald at (404) 218-8580. Email us anytime at thebanjowarehouse@gmail.com.













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