Gold Tone Tubaphone Banjo W/Railroad Spikes OT-800 Mastertone 2023

Gold Tone OT-800 Tubaphone Mastertone Open-Back Banjo — Near Mint, w/ Hardshell Case

This is a Gold Tone OT-800, their tribute to the most sought-after banjos of the classic period (1890–1930), back when the Boston school of banjo building was at its peak. It's a faithful nod to the old Vega Tubaphones, and it has the warm, complex, ringing voice to back that up.

The pot is built around a pre-WWII-style 32-hole Tubaphone tone ring — a square-section brass tube on a solid brass rod, sleeved in turned brass — seated on an 11" maple rim. The bracket band carries the shoes without drilling into the rim itself, which adds real mass and pushes the power and sustain. Dual coordinator rods (instead of an old dowel stick) make action adjustments quick and painless. Up top you get a maple neck with a bound ebony fingerboard, engraved Vega-style inlays, a Fairbanks-style headstock with the etched star, GT Master Planet tuners, a Remo Renaissance head, maple/ebony bridge, and a No-Knot tailpiece. There's a frailing scoop at the end of the board for the clawhammer players.

I've added three railroad spikes (5th-string capo spikes) for quick retuning into the common old-time keys — a nice touch if you spend any time in modal or sawmill tunings.

Honestly, this banjo has barely been played. I took it out for a couple of square dances and that's about it, so it's basically brand new — no wear to speak of. It's freshly strung and ready to go, and it comes with the original hardshell case.

Feel free to reach out with any questions.