The man who defined the "Golden Era" of modern banjos is back at the drawing board. Introducing the Gold Tone OB-12 Top Tension—designed with Greg Rich to deliver the original, authentic pre-war sound you’ve been chasing. Massive sustain, heritage styling, and uncompromising volume.

This instrument is a faithful tribute to the famous Mastertone Top Tension models of the late 1930s. Renowned for their weight and mass, these banjos offer a distinct, aggressive cut and a depth of tone that standard builds simply cannot replicate. At the heart of this build is the hand-selected walnut neck and matching resonator. Walnut offers a sonic signature that sits perfectly between mahogany and maple—delivering warmth without sacrificing clarity—while the carved original-style resonator provides the correct internal air chamber geometry for maximum projection.