Bart Reiter Whyte Laydie Model 5 String Banjo (1990), made in Lansing, Michigan, serial # 528, natural lacquer finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
Overall length is 36 3/4 in. (93.3 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 in. (660 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/16 in. (33 mm.).
This banjo has some light wear but has not been heavily played. There are small finish dings and chips and some minor tarnish to the plating, with some loss on a few of the hooks. There is light finish checking on the headstock and a small patch of lacquer flaking next to the gryphon inlay. The planetary tuners appear a newer style than we are used to seeing on Reiters from this period, so were likely changed more recently.
This instrument plays and sounds excellent; it hardly seems almost 30 years old already! Bart Reiter, one of the finest banjo makers of recent times, no longer builds this lovely Fairbanks-inspired Whyte Laydie style instrument. This very nice and relatively early example of a very classy modern old-time banjo is now only available used, already slipping into history! Excellent - Condition.
