Bart Reiter Special 5 String Banjo (1996)
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Bart Reiter Special Model 5 String Banjo (1996), made in Lansing, Michigan, serial # 1462, shaded maple finish, laminated maple rim and neck with ebony fingerboard, black gig bag 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 over decades. Bart Reiter recently retired after his 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 another in stock.
This "Special" 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 with pearloid buttons, including the 5th string. All hardware is nickel plated, original and typical for the period; the tailpiece is a repro "Eagle Claw".
This banjo is a mid-period example of Reiter's work, built at the end 1996 (actually the last serial # registered that year) when his total yearly output was only 129 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 and Moon bridge this one has both a frailing punch and a mellow roundness to the tone. We think it sounds great and is another delightful example of this maker's consistently superb instruments.
Overall length is 37 in. (94 cm.), 11 1/8 in. (28.3 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 nearly 30 (!) year old banjo shows signs only very light signs of use with no notable damage or repair. The Elite head is completely solid. There is some clouding and wear to the nickel plating (mostly the hoop) but only minimal finish wear. The original frets are very clean with hardly any wear at all; really this banjo looks little used since new. "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 over decades. Bart Reiter recently retired after his 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 another in stock.
This "Special" 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 with pearloid buttons, including the 5th string. All hardware is nickel plated, original and typical for the period; the tailpiece is a repro "Eagle Claw".
This banjo is a mid-period example of Reiter's work, built at the end 1996 (actually the last serial # registered that year) when his total yearly output was only 129 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 and Moon bridge this one has both a frailing punch and a mellow roundness to the tone. We think it sounds great and is another delightful example of this maker's consistently superb instruments.
Overall length is 37 in. (94 cm.), 11 1/8 in. (28.3 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 nearly 30 (!) year old banjo shows signs only very light signs of use with no notable damage or repair. The Elite head is completely solid. There is some clouding and wear to the nickel plating (mostly the hoop) but only minimal finish wear. The original frets are very clean with hardly any wear at all; really this banjo looks little used since new. "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.