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Your cart is empty.4.5 out of 5 stars
- #7,698 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
- #6 in Banjos (Musical Instruments)
Product Description
AC-1: Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo
Made for beginners; this banjo is affordable, lightweight, and durable. This is the perfect banjo for beginner and kids that are looking for their first banjo that with sounds great and last a lifetime.
Set Up in Titusville, Florida
All Gold Tone instruments are individually set up in Titusville, Florida! This ensures optimal quality and excellent playability! The set-up of an instrument is the most important part of a great sounding instrument.
Instrument Highlights
Acoustic Composite Material
Composite material that produces a loud and bright sound while maintaining a strong and durable construction that is also lightweight.
Classic Headstock Design
The AC-1 features a classic headstock shape with guitar-style tuners that allow for precise tuning adjustments.
Open Back Design
The open back design allows for a lightweight and multi-purposeful playability. An added coordinator rod and truss rod through the neck allows for long-term stability and adjustability. That is a feature competitors don't offer at this price range.
Gold Tone: Family Owned and Operated Since 1993
Gold Tone was founded by Wayne and Robyn Rogers, who still operate it to this day. Our extended family works hard every day to ensure that each instrument that leaves our facility meets the highest standards of utility and value. At Gold Tone, we care about YOU, the player. Anyone who has ever owned a Gold Tone instrument is truly part of our family.
Cathy S.
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2024
This beginner banjo came in great shape and ready to play. I have never played a stringed instrument and am enjoying learning the banjo.
DAMON THIBODEAUX
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024
This is a sweet little Banjo. Lightweight has a real good, plunky sound. I’m really enjoying it so far. It needed quite a bit of setting back up. It was packed horribly zero padding in the box. The internal box that the instrument was in was wide open. The instrument was flying around loose a giant box with zero padding. Still, a great addition to my Banjo family.
Gary D.
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2024
Very good little banjo. Would be a good banjo for a beginner . good tone and volume . fast delivery. The packaging leaves a lot to be desired. I'm surprised it wasn't damaged in shipment. Would recommend the banjo. 5 stars. I did add an armrest. Will leave the tuners as is.
Tom
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2023
Everyone I asked said this is the only banjo under $500 worth getting, they seem to be right. Arrived in a very large box, the smaller box containing the banjo had opened a little but everything was intact. A head key and allen wrench are contained in the maintenance manual in the gig bag.Checked the setup, it was perfect. Bridge already installed, head already tightened, no need to adjust the neck or intonation or action. Frets are smooth, no buzzing. Sounds great.Since it costs half the amount of the next best banjo everyone compares it to, I was able to spend the rest on a bunch of banjo books.
Brenda c lyall
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2023
Would of been a great banjo if the head wasn’t cracked. It came in a big box but the banjo box inside that it was in wasn't taped closed so it had opened and been banged around leaving the head cracked. Overall would be a great banjo if the shipping was tapped up properly.
Steve
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2023
Although I own several other stringed instruments this is my first banjo. It sounds fantastic, appears to be well made. The action and intonation are spot on. I would definitely recommend this Gold Tone.
C. Marney
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2021
I'm very happy with the banjo, although I am no expert banjo player this one does the job nicely and sounds great. It arrived well packaged and was set up ready to play. Now I'm just driving the family nuts practising picking styles!
ShadowRaven
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021
This is a great banjo for the money. I have heard not so great things about imported cheap banjos, but this AC-1 was always talked highly of.Maybe because the company checks it out here in America and makes sure everything is good to go prior to shipping.It arrived ready to go, and includes a few tools and a letter explaining adjusting your banjo when needed.I liked it so much, I decided to upgrade to a few Deering banjos, but this Gold Tone is nice because composite plastic is not changed as mush as wood for traveling etc.It holds tune very well, unlike other cheap instruments. The only thing I can mention that might not be great, is the sound is slightly different than a wooden rim banjo.But it's just a little different, a beginner would not even know. There is not another in this price range better from what I can tell.If you can afford to pay double the price, the Deering Goodtime banjo is a steal for the money, and would be even better.When holding them both, you can tell this AC-1 is more cheaply built (rim/j hooks etc).But to get your feet wet, this one is excellent.Once you upgrade, this one can be used as a truck/camping banjo, and the wood one can stay home nice and dry.Also, this one looks great too.I included a pic of it sitting in my speakeasy.
Kenneth Croes
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2019
I am literally thrilled with this banjo. If you're looking for a featherweight 5-string banjo that sounds great, has an excellent set-up right out of the box, and has a very affordable price, the Gold Tone AC-1 is a winner. Whether clawhammer or Scruggs-style is your method, the banjo delivers superb sound for its price and weight. If you're a beginner and you're not sure you'll stick with it, the AC-1 is an excellent choice. It won't break the bank and you won't have to fight the instrument to play it. If you're a veteran player that wants to shed the typical heaviness of a Bluegrass banjo due to age or injury, the AC-1 will satisfy. As a travel banjo for camping trips, beach bonfires or risky airline handling, the Gold Tone AC-1 fills the bill. It's structurally made well and looks good, too. My only suggestion for improvement would be to add a strap button to the heel of the instrument. Other banjo players may make fun of you if you add your own strap button to the heel. Ignore them and do it if you want.
Mark J. Werner
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2018
I’d been playing my home-made banjo increasingly, but it’s shortcomings were beginning to be more and more apparent.Limited budget...I saw a couple of write-ups on this Gold Tone offering and decided to give it a try. I’d had a similarly-priced Epiphone some years back and it arrived badly in need of a setup. Head not tightened, bridge not placed, etc...Gold Tone advertises that each of these overseas-produced instruments is properly set up at thier center prior to shipment. I found this to be true. Head tensioned, action set, bridge placed.... All I had to do was tune up and play.This banjo features a one-piece composite rim... No “tone ring”. As a result, the instrument is very light. So light, in fact, that you’ll need a strap right away just to keep the neck up. No worries about shoulder pain, however.All the hardware seems fine...Tuners work smoothly, frets are well-finished, etc. Very comfortable to play.If you want, a composite resonator and an armrest are both available from Gold Tone.So, how’s it sound? Very good,, IMO. Quite loud for an open back, and seems to handle either Scruggs-style picking with fingerpicks and trailing/clawhammer just fine.Only downside is the “bag”... which does hold the banjo but offers about as much protection as a gunny sack. Protects from dust and scratches, but that’s all. Trying to keep that under-200-dollar price point, I imagine.
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