Guitar or Mandola? Why Not Both!
That’s right. Gold Tone’s Mando-Guitar — part of their hybrid line of “folkternative” instruments — brings the indelible sonic stylings of a mandola to the feel and form factor of an acoustic-electric guitar. Available in both 6- and 12-string variants, the Mando-Guitar is designed with an extended scale length of 15 inches, accompanied by an adjustable ebony bridge, trapeze tailpiece, Zero Glide nut, and Kluson-style tuners to ensure reliable intonation, tuning stability, and low, buzz-free action. Its large, F-style body is designed to augment the instrument’s natural volume, resonance, and low-end profile, eliciting clear, articulate tones with a distinctive timbre. Maple adorns the back and sides, while a solid spruce top provides plenty of warmth, brightness, and sustain. The rosewood fretboard is radiused for maximum comfort while accommodating a versatile array of playing styles, in addition to imbuing your tone with a crystalline veneer. Americana instrumentalists at Sweetwater love the inclusion of a bridge-mounted transducer pickup, perfectly bringing to life the Mando-Guitar’s unique tonal profile and extended-scale sonics.
Related Videos: F-6/L 6-string Left-handed Acoustic-electric Mando-Guitar - Tobacco Sunburst
Zero Glide: patented precision makes playability smooth
Gold Tone’s Zero Glide nut is a tiny piece of hardware that enhances instrument performance drastically. The patented design pairs a sustain-boosting bone nut with a hard nickel-silver “zero fret” for enhanced reliability and sound. Zero Glide nuts grace the headstocks of electric guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos, and even ukuleles. The benefits are clearly universal! Zero Glide’s precision-cut string slots further reduce string contact by a staggering 93% at the nut — meaning fewer tuning breaks and better resonance, especially when playing gets aggressive. Zero Glide also narrows sonic differences between fretted- and open-string notes while solving common intonation issues for innovative accuracy without compromising character.
Gold Tone: a legacy of music
The origins of Gold Tone go back to the folk music scene of the ’70s, when musicians Wayne and Robyn Rogers opened a small music shop. Fifteen years later, they founded Gold Tone Banjos in Titusville, Florida. Their first product, the TB-100 banjo, was designed by Wayne. As demand for this critically acclaimed instrument increased, the company expanded its offerings to include a selection of fretted instruments that combine modern innovation and timeless vintage design. The goal? To inspire all musicians, from beginners to professionals, to realize their musical dreams. Today, Sweetwater is pleased to offer you Gold Tone’s exciting range of 4-, 5-, and 6-string banjos, banjo ukuleles, metal- and wood-bodied resonator guitars, Weissenborn Hawaiian steel guitars, and mandolins.
Gold Tone F-6 6-string Mando-Guitar Features:
- F-style mandola-type body is designed for maximum resonance and sustain, thanks to its augmented chamber
- Extended 15-inch scale length provides greater versatility in both tonal range and playing style
- Maple back and sides provide warmth and clarity while remaining bright throughout each register
- Solid spruce top elicits punchy, straightforward tones with plenty of headroom
- Radiused rosewood fingerboard supplements your sound with shimmering panache while accommodating numerous playstyles with flexible comfort
- Maple neck features a 2-way adjustable truss rod to adjust intonation easily
- Ebony bridge is fully adjustable and features a built-in transducer pickup for amplified play that won’t compromise tone
- Zero Glide nut is designed to bolster resonance and sustain while minimizing string contact
