A Little Vintage Spirit, Ready for the Stage
There's something about a teardrop-bodied A-style mandolin that just feels like it belongs in a front-porch jam or a packed folk festival. The Gold Tone GM-50+ taps into that century-old tradition — the kind of instrument that filled Midwestern clubs and orchestras in the early 1900s — and quietly updates it for the way people actually play today.
The big upgrade: a factory-installed transducer pickup. You're not taping a clip-on to the body or routing to a soundhole mic. It's already in there, so when the room gets loud or you step up to a mic stand, you just plug in and play. Acoustic or amplified, this mandolin handles both without drama.
Whether you're working through your first bluegrass tunes or already sitting in at open mics, the GM-50+ is a well-appointed, giggable mandolin that doesn't ask you to compromise on tone or convenience.
Carved Solid Spruce Top
The top of the GM-50+ is carved solid spruce — the same construction you'd find on much more expensive mandolins. A solid carved top responds differently than a flat laminate: it vibrates more freely, opens up with play, and tends to reward the player with focused, articulate sound across the full range of the instrument.
The High Gloss Tobacco Sunburst finish adds a nod to those original vintage instruments, giving the mandolin that warm, amber-to-dark-brown gradient that looks right at home on a stage or in a living room session.
Curly Maple Back, Sides, and Neck
The back and sides are curly maple, which brings a natural brightness and clarity to the instrument's character. Maple is a traditional choice for mandolins precisely because it helps project the instrument's voice clearly — useful when you're cutting through an ensemble. The curly figure also gives the GM-50+ a visual distinction that sets it apart from plain-topped entry-level instruments.
The maple neck pairs with a genuine ebony fingerboard — a smooth, dense playing surface that holds up well over time. The 13-3/4" scale length keeps the fret spacing comfortable, and the Zero Glide nut reduces string contact at the nut by 93%, which can improve open-string tuning stability and response.
Details That Matter
Gold Tone sets up every GM-50+ at their Florida shop before it ships. That means fret levels, intonation, and action are dialed in — not something you'd need to hand off to a tech right away. The adjustable bridge lets you fine-tune string height to your preference down the road.
Additional appointments include white celluloid binding, chrome-plated hardware, a cast tailpiece, 4 inline deluxe tuners, and a two-way adjustable truss rod. The Chop Saddle Pickup is factory-installed and ready to use with any standard amp or PA.
Product Features:
- Style: A-Style mandolin body
- Top: Carved solid spruce, High Gloss Tobacco Sunburst finish
- Back & Sides: Curly maple
- Neck: Maple with two-way adjustable truss rod
- Fingerboard: Ebony, 20 frets, dot inlays
- Scale Length: 13-3/4"
- Nut: 1-1/8" bone Zero Glide nut
- Pickup: Factory-installed Chop Saddle transducer pickup
- Bridge: Adjustable select wood, period-correct style
- Hardware: Chrome-plated; cast tailpiece; 4 inline deluxe tuners
- Binding: White celluloid
Brand: Gold Tone
Model: GM-50+
SKU: GM-50+
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
