Bart Reiter Round Peak 5 String Banjo (2013)
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Item # 12506
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Bart Reiter Round Peak Model 5 String Banjo (2013), made in Lansing, Michigan, serial # 3901, mahogany stain finish, laminated maple rim, laminated mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
Bart Reiter banjos are among the most respected of all modern/old-time instruments, built along classic design lines to an amazingly consistent high standard. Bart Reiter recently retired after a long and very successful run as an independent banjo maker who never sold his name into big time production. We'd like to salute him for that, it is fairly rare in the modern industry. Each instruments made by him over the decades is a gem and we are always happy to get on in stock.
The Bart Reiter Round Peak is a large rim, medium scale banjo with a frailer's scoop with a slightly mellower sound than many modern 5-strings, intended for the more traditional old-time frailing player. While built closely to the traditional Fairbanks/Vega construction specs this model is not a re-creation of any original 1910/20s Vega. The 12" rim is heavy maple with a plain Little Wonder style tone ring. The medium 26" 1/4" scale neck is laminated mahogany with an ebony center strip. The unbound heavy ebony fingerboard has plain dot inlay with a single star at the fifth fret. The headstock is faced in ebony also with a single inlaid pearl star. The tuners are geared planets with black plastic buttons, including the 5th string. All hardware is nickel plated; the tailpiece is a repro No-Knot.
This banjo is just over 10 years old, built in the year 2013 which was a fairly active year for Bart Reiter's workshop with a total output of 225 instruments. It is a relatively plain looking Reiter but an excellent optimized frailer's instrument, also an excellent choice for fiddle band where the banjo plays more of an accompanist's role. Fitted out with a frosted Elite head this one has plenty of volume tempered by a mellow roundness to the tone. We think it sounds great (and plays perfectly) and is another delightful example of this maker's consistently superb instruments.
Overall length is 38 in. (96.5 cm.), 12 in. (30.5 cm.) diameter head, and 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 1/4 in. (667 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This 10-year old example shows only very light signs of use (looks like it's never been to any festivals!) with no notable damage or repair. The Elite head is a bit worn below the strings from play, but completely solid. There is some clouding and light wear to the nickel plating and only very light finish wear. The original frets are very clean with hardly any wear at all; really this banjo looks little used over the last 10 years. "Why, She's not even broken in" the old timers would say. Like Fairbanks/Vega before him Bart built his instruments to last and provide a lifetime of service; this one is an excellent playing and sounding frailer from pretty much the best recent builder of old-time banjos. Overall Excellent Condition.
Bart Reiter banjos are among the most respected of all modern/old-time instruments, built along classic design lines to an amazingly consistent high standard. Bart Reiter recently retired after a long and very successful run as an independent banjo maker who never sold his name into big time production. We'd like to salute him for that, it is fairly rare in the modern industry. Each instruments made by him over the decades is a gem and we are always happy to get on in stock.
The Bart Reiter Round Peak is a large rim, medium scale banjo with a frailer's scoop with a slightly mellower sound than many modern 5-strings, intended for the more traditional old-time frailing player. While built closely to the traditional Fairbanks/Vega construction specs this model is not a re-creation of any original 1910/20s Vega. The 12" rim is heavy maple with a plain Little Wonder style tone ring. The medium 26" 1/4" scale neck is laminated mahogany with an ebony center strip. The unbound heavy ebony fingerboard has plain dot inlay with a single star at the fifth fret. The headstock is faced in ebony also with a single inlaid pearl star. The tuners are geared planets with black plastic buttons, including the 5th string. All hardware is nickel plated; the tailpiece is a repro No-Knot.
This banjo is just over 10 years old, built in the year 2013 which was a fairly active year for Bart Reiter's workshop with a total output of 225 instruments. It is a relatively plain looking Reiter but an excellent optimized frailer's instrument, also an excellent choice for fiddle band where the banjo plays more of an accompanist's role. Fitted out with a frosted Elite head this one has plenty of volume tempered by a mellow roundness to the tone. We think it sounds great (and plays perfectly) and is another delightful example of this maker's consistently superb instruments.
Overall length is 38 in. (96.5 cm.), 12 in. (30.5 cm.) diameter head, and 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 1/4 in. (667 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This 10-year old example shows only very light signs of use (looks like it's never been to any festivals!) with no notable damage or repair. The Elite head is a bit worn below the strings from play, but completely solid. There is some clouding and light wear to the nickel plating and only very light finish wear. The original frets are very clean with hardly any wear at all; really this banjo looks little used over the last 10 years. "Why, She's not even broken in" the old timers would say. Like Fairbanks/Vega before him Bart built his instruments to last and provide a lifetime of service; this one is an excellent playing and sounding frailer from pretty much the best recent builder of old-time banjos. Overall Excellent Condition.