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Gold Tone AC-12FL - 12-inch Fretless Acoustic Composite 5-string Open-back Banjo
5-string Open-back Fretless Banjo with 12" Composite Rim, Nato Neck, and Rosewood Fingerboard
An Ideal Choice for Your First Fretless Banjo
The Gold Tone AC-12FL is a fretless 5-string open-back banjo that’s ideal for travel, practice, or for any player looking to sharpen their old-time clawhammer chops. This banjo’s combination of an open-back design, 12-inch composite rim, and Remo LC Renaissance head provides a rich, mellow tone not often found on traditional bluegrass banjos. Moreover, the rosewood-topped nato neck’s fretless construction sports markers so even beginners can easily find their playing position. And while the AC-12FL is an excellent choice for the player on a budget, it doesn’t skimp out on functionality — the vintage style clamshell tailpiece, covered guitar-style tuners, ZeroGlide nut, and coordinator rod design ensure exceptional performance and stability.
No frets, no problem
The AC-12FL harkens back to the banjo in the 19th century, when many musicians played fretless banjos with plunky gut strings. Those instruments often offered little more than a stark black fingerboard to find your notes, but the AC-12FL’s clear and present fret markers make it a breeze to locate your playing position. What’s more, the AC-12FL comes stock with Aquila Nylgut strings — not quite true gut strings (thankfully!), yet they offer the same low-sustain thump and easy sliding feel that defined the banjo before frets became a part of the picture.
12-inch rim provides a warm, mellow response
Whether it’s your first banjo or your fifth, one of the first specs to consider when running down Sweetwater’s (digital) banjo racks is the size of the instrument’s rim. While an 11-inch rim may be standard in the world of bluegrass, the AC-12FL’s 12-inch rim provides a warmer, fuller response with quite a bit more bass than an 11-inch rim. Paired with the open-back design, the AC-12FL is particularly adept at old-time frailing (clawhammer) styles or for solo vocal accompaniment.
Your new clawhammer companion
From its open back to its warm, woody tone, just about every element of the AC-12FL is fine tuned for clawhammer banjo. The wide 12-inch rim is a perfect fit for any clawhammer or old time player for its deep, full projection. And while the composite rim may not be composed of traditional wood, it delivers the same laid-back and rounded-over response required in clawhammer and old-time banjo applications.
Gold Tone AC-12FL: 12-inch Fretless Acoustic Composite 5-string Open-back Banjo Features:
- Fretless neck construction with nylgut strings and clear fret markers make for the perfect first fretless banjo
- Open-back design is ideal for old-time and clawhammer styles
- 12-inch composite rim with Remo LC Renaissance head delivers a warm, mellow tone with enhanced low end
- Nato neck topped with a sleek rosewood fingerboard
- 1-7/16-inch ZeroGlide nut and standard 26-3/16-inch scale length offers full-size banjo tone and playability
- Coordinator rods and vintage-style clamshell tailpiece combine vintage looks with modern functionality and performance
- Covered guitar-style tuners ensure excellent tuning stability
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Acoustic |
| String Type | Nylon |
| Number of Strings | 5 |
| Body Style | Open Back |
| Color | Black |
| Finish | Satin |
| Top Material | 12" Remo LC Renaissance |
| Body Material | Composite |
| Neck Material | Nato |
| Fingerboard Material | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Star |
| Number of Frets | Fretless (22 fretlines) |
| Scale Length | 26.1875" |
| Nut Material | Bone |
| Nut Width | 1.4375" |
| Bridge Material | Maple with Ebony cap |
| Tuners | Covered |
| Hardware | Chrome |
| Strings | Aquila Nylgut, .020, .024, .029, .040, .019 |
| Case/Gig Bag | Gig Bag |
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