Bart Reiter Special 5 String Banjo (1998)
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Bart Reiter Special Model 5 String Banjo (1998), made in Lansing, Michigan, serial # 1588, shaded maple finish, laminated maple rim and neck with ebony fingerboard, original black 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.
This model is basically a re-creation of a later 1910/20s Vega Little Wonder built closely to the traditional Fairbanks/Vega specs. The rim is heavy maple with a plain Little Wonder style tone ring. The medium 26" 1/4" scale neck is laminated maple 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, including the 5th string. All hardware is nickel plated, original and typical for the period; the tailpiece is a repro No-Knot.
This banjo is a mid-period example of Reiter's work, built in early 1998 when his total yearly output was only 99 banjos. It is a relatively plain looking Reiter but an excellent instrument, with at least equal sonic qualities to the 1920s Vega originals. Fitted out with an Elite Fiberskyn style head this one has both a frailing punch and 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 37 in. (94 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 2 3/4 in. (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 25 (!) year old banjo shows signs only very light signs of use with no notable damage or repair. The Elite head is a bit worn above and 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 quarter of a century. "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.
This model is basically a re-creation of a later 1910/20s Vega Little Wonder built closely to the traditional Fairbanks/Vega specs. The rim is heavy maple with a plain Little Wonder style tone ring. The medium 26" 1/4" scale neck is laminated maple 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, including the 5th string. All hardware is nickel plated, original and typical for the period; the tailpiece is a repro No-Knot.
This banjo is a mid-period example of Reiter's work, built in early 1998 when his total yearly output was only 99 banjos. It is a relatively plain looking Reiter but an excellent instrument, with at least equal sonic qualities to the 1920s Vega originals. Fitted out with an Elite Fiberskyn style head this one has both a frailing punch and 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 37 in. (94 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 2 3/4 in. (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 25 (!) year old banjo shows signs only very light signs of use with no notable damage or repair. The Elite head is a bit worn above and 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 quarter of a century. "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.