Gold Tone BB-400 Acoustic-Electric Bass Banjo, Gig Bag - Used
There is no other instrument quite like the Gold Tone Bass Banjo, and that is not hyperbole — it is just true. Gold Tone took the open-back banjo format and dropped the pitch to bass register, pairing a 13" maple rim, rolled brass tone ring, and Remo Renaissance head with a sliding internal magnetic pickup system that captures the full character of the instrument and sends it to an amp without losing what makes it interesting. The result is something genuinely singular: acoustically, it sits somewhere between a thumpy upright bass and a banjo, with quick attack, focused midrange, and a presence that cuts through an ensemble cleanly. Plugged in, it becomes something else again — the banjo overtones settle and the bass voice comes forward, sitting in a tonal space that no conventional electric bass occupies. Slap techniques work beautifully on it. Clawhammer feels right at home. It rewards experimentation.
A rare bird indeed — and this one has been recently serviced by our shop and is ready to play. If you have been curious about this instrument, this is a clean example at a price that makes the experiment easy to justify.
Condition is Very Good with signs of cosmetic use consistent with a played instrument. Nothing structural, nothing that affects playability or tone. Check the photos for specifics. Note: this example comes with a gig bag rather than the hardshell case the BB-400 is typically sold with.
- Make: Gold Tone
- Model: BB-400 Bass Banjo
- Rim: 13" maple, open back
- Tone ring: Rolled brass
- Head: Remo Renaissance
- Neck: Maple, slim profile, two-way adjustable truss rod
- Fingerboard: Rosewood, radiused
- Nut: Bone
- Strings: 4
- Tailpiece: Stainless steel, straight-pull
- Tuners: Bass-style sealed die-cast
- Hardware: Nickel
- Pickup: Gold Tone SMP sliding internal magnetic pickup with volume control
- Thumb rest: Included on head
- Weight: 7 lbs 5 oz
- Modifications: None confirmed
- Includes: Gig bag
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value.
International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
