Ome Tupelo 5 String Open Back 12"

The Ome Tupelo 12" Open-Back Banjo delivers a rich, warm, and resonant voice that suits traditional and old-time playing styles beautifully. Built in Titusville, Florida, this model pairs a 12" 2-ply cherry rim with a Renaissance head, offering deep warmth, fullness, and a naturally mellow response. With 24 brackets, a sturdy rim-stick coordinator rod, and a custom OME 5/8" bridge, the Tupelo provides both tonal stability and projection.

The cherry neck features a smooth tung-oil finish, a comfortable 1 11/32" nut width, and a rosewood fingerboard fitted with 17 hardened nickel frets and brass dot inlays. A paddle-shaped headstock with Rickard Cyclone tuners and tortoid buttons adds vintage elegance, while an ebony-capped heel, tortoise-shell binding, and an ebonite rim cap complete the refined aesthetic.

Aged brass hardware—including the tension hoop and Sweetone tailpiece—gives the instrument a timeless look and contributes to its warm tonal character. Weighing approximately 5.7 lbs and featuring a 25.5" scale, the Tupelo is comfortable to play and easy to transport. It comes strung with .010–.024w gauges in standard GDGBD tuning and includes a protective case.

Highlights

Neck

• Cherry neck with tung-oil finish

• 1 11/32" nut width

• Paddle-style headstock

• Rickard Cyclone tuners with tortoid buttons

• Rosewood fingerboard with brass dot inlays

• 17 hardened nickel frets

• Dual-action adjustable truss rod

• Ebony-capped heel

• Brass dot side position markers

Body / Rim / Hardware

• 12" 2-ply cherry rim

• 24 brackets

• Ebonite rim cap

• Tortoise-shell binding

• Wooden armrest

• Rim-stick coordinator rod

• Aged brass hardware throughout

• Aged brass tension hoop

• 5/8" OME bridge

• Renaissance head

• Sweetone tailpiece

• Tone Rim tone system (Ome proprietary design)

Other Specs

• Scale length: 25.5"

• Weight: 5.70 lbs

• Strings: 5-string setup

• String gauges: .010, .012, .015, .024w, .010

• Tuning: G–D–G–B–D

• Case included