CC-100 (Cripple Creek Openback)

Never before has an entry level openback banjo included the features and tone of our CC-100OB. Check any competitive banjo in this price range and you’ll find "more bang for the buck" with our Cripple Creek.

Features include maple neck and body, neck and resonator binding, double coordinator rods, curly maple headstock veneer, Straight Line tailpiece, brass tone ring, 2 way adjustable truss rod, and low action for the beginning banjoist. Available as a lefty, and with many other options such as planetary tuners, capo spikes, and the CC-100 Value Pak which includes banjo, strap, picks,a well established range of entry level/intermediate banjos from Gold Tone. Superficially, they resemble other entry-level/intermediate banjos - why choose a Gold Tone? The simple answer is that the CC100 range are better designed and more carefully made than most other instruments in this price range. The CC100 banjos share many common features with the higher grade instruments in the Gold Tone range. Here’s a short list:-

The neck is made from solid rock maple instead of the usual mahogany - this means it is more comfortable to play, more stable and is likely to last a good deal longer than the necks on most entry-level banjos. It also has a proper fingerboard and truss rod so that future adjustments and maintenance are routine operations - unlike some other entry level instruments.

The neck is attached with a precision joint and 2 co-ordinator rods instead of the usual loose fit with one very large bolt - this means the neck to rim joint is much more accurate and the banjo is considerably more stable than some others.

The rim is made to a precise 11” size and the metalwork is close-fitting instead of being a sloppy 11 1/16” or 11 1/8” - this also adds to stability & means that the tone is better. You will also a readily available choice of replacement heads if need them (or just wish to try a different head for a change of sound) - it’s often difficult to get replacement heads for “sloppy” size banjos

The rim is fitted with a small brass tone ring - not a wonderful item, to be sure, but it crisps up the tone considerably - and most entry-level banjos have no tone ring of any kind. A heavier and better quality tone ring is available and can be retro-fitted if required.

The tailpiece is a solid cast Straightline type instead of the usual fairly flimsy pressed steel type - this means the tuning is more stable and the tailpiece is likely to last a great deal longer

The CC100 is also fitted with a decent armrest (many entry-level banjos lack one), 2 good quality co-ordinator rods (most entry level banjos have only one - a sloppy type which cannot be locked in position) , a geared 5th string peg (many entry-level banjos have a nasty “friction” type) and good quality strings. This is all in addition to being professionally set-up so it comes to you ready to play