Gold Tone AC-4: Acoustic Composite 4-String Openback Tenor Banjo with Gig Bag

Gold Tone AC-4 Series – Lightweight Beginner Tenor & Plectrum Banjos

Like its award-winning cousin, the AC-1, the Gold Tone AC-4 Series offers a durable, great-sounding, and affordable entry into banjo playing. Built with a snappy composite rim, slim nato neck, and Gold Tone’s Zero Glide nut, these lightweight openback banjos deliver bright tone, smooth playability, and exceptional portability at just 3.5 lbs.

Professionally set up in Gold Tone’s Florida shop, each AC-4 comes with a gig bag and a three-year transferable warranty.

Model Highlights

• AC-4 Standard Tenor – 19-fret tenor banjo with a 22-3/4" scale, tuned CGDA. Ideal for traditional jazz, Dixieland, and folk tenor styles.

• AC-4 Irish Tenor – 17-fret short-scale tenor with a 19-3/4" scale, tuned GDAE. Perfect for Celtic and Irish folk music.

• AC-4 Plectrum – 22-fret, full-scale (26-3/16") plectrum banjo tuned CGBD, designed for chord-melody and traditional jazz playing.

Shared Features

• Lightweight composite rim construction

• Comfortable rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays

• Chrome-plated hardware and black satin finish

• 11" Remo LC Smooth head

• Vintage-style tailpiece

• Gig bag included; optional HDTR15-M hard case 

  Gold Tone AC-4 Series Comparison

  Category	AC-4 Standard Tenor	AC-4 Irish Tenor	AC-4 Plectrum
  Headstock - Buttons	Black	Black	Black
  Headstock - Nut Width	1-3/16" ZeroGlide Nut	1-3/16" ZeroGlide Nut	1-3/16" ZeroGlide Nut
  Headstock - Tuners	Covered Guitar-Style	Covered Guitar-Style	Covered Guitar-Style
  Neck - Fingerboard	Rosewood	Rosewood	Rosewood
  Neck - Frets	19	17	22
  Neck - Inlay	Dot	Dot	Dot
  Neck - Material	Nato	Nato	Nato
  Neck - Truss Rod	Two-Way Adjustable	Two-Way Adjustable	Two-Way Adjustable
  Body - Binding	Black ABS	Black ABS	Black ABS
  Body - Brackets	16	16	16
  Body - Bridge	Maple w/ Ebony Cap	Maple w/ Ebony Cap	Maple w/ Ebony Cap
  Body - Coordinator Rods	Single 11"	Single 11"	Single 11"
  Body - Finish	Black / Satin	Black / Satin	Black / Satin
  Body - Hardware	Chrome Plated	Chrome Plated	Chrome Plated
  Body - Head	11" Remo LC Smooth	11" Remo LC Smooth	11" Remo LC Smooth
  Body - Rim	11" Composite	11" Composite	11" Composite
  Body - Tailpiece	Vintage Style	Vintage Style	Vintage Style
  Body - Tension Hoop	11" Flat Bar	11" Flat Bar	11" Flat Bar
  Dimensions - Scale Length	22-3/4"	19-3/4"	26-3/16"
  Dimensions - Weight	3.5 lbs.	3.5 lbs.	3.5 lbs.
  Other - Bag Included	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Other - Case	HDTR15-M (Optional)	HDTR15-M (Optional)	HDTR15-M (Optional)
  Other - String Gauge	.030w, .022w, .016, .009	.040w, .030w, .020w, .010	.030w, .022w, .016, .009
  Other - Tuning	CGDA	GDAE	CGBD
  Highlights	Zero Glide Nut, Composite Rim Construction, Lightweight, Remo 11" LC Smooth Head	Zero Glide Nut, Composite Rim Construction, Lightweight, Remo 11" LC Smooth Head	Zero Glide Nut, Composite Rim Construction, Lightweight, Remo 11" LC Smooth Head