NOTE: Sold Pending Funds. Thanks again for your interest.

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Bart Reiter ‘A-flat Standard’ model banjo in near-mint condition with very light-to-no fret wear. The finish has no nicks, scratches, gouges, or wear of any kind. Please note the neck of this banjo was built ONE FRET SHORTER at the peghead end which makes for an easier reach to the lower register as well as slightly easier chording. And, yes, there is a frailing scoop in the fingerboard.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are a few differences with this banjo from how it was delivered to me new: 1) the peghead tuners currently installed are the double-banded variety (possibly made by Gotoh) and feature 'butterscotch' tuning buttons instead of the original Five Star tuners with white buttons – the butterscotch color is striking when contrasted against the dark mahogany neck; 2) the banjo has installed a non-original vintage Ode tailpiece (pictured in the photos), but the original 'No-Knot' that came with the banjo will also be included; 3) a white frosted head has replaced the original Elite Amber (Renaissance) head – with the Ode tailpiece installed, the Elite head sounded a bit too ‘busy’… whereas the white-frosted head this banjo now sports provides a more focused sound for this setup; and 4) the armrest (non-original since Bart Reiter banjos don't come with armrests) is a beautiful Nechville Comfort Bevel armrest that I purchased from a BHO member for $50 – the wood grain and color of this armrest matches the neck perfectly and serves to tie everything together into a very handsome package.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: The two 'screws' pictured above the dowel stick inside the rim actually serve as locator pins. These pins go through the rim and are inserted into two very tiny holes drilled into the neck's heel-to-rim mating surface (neither of these pins are screwed into the neck). This small modification was accomplished to keep the neck from drifting out of position when the dowel stick is slipped through the rim's mortise and the neck tightened to the rim. To further explain, the mortise in the rim was very slightly enlarged horizontally to allow the neck's dowel stick to slide slightly upward (i.e., toward the head), allowing a slight re-positioning of the neck to reduce the distance between the fingerboard and strings. The string height, as it came from the Bart Reiter shop, was very high and did not allow easy fretting in the neck's upper register, hence the modification. This slight modification not only corrected the excessive string-height problem but also afforded an extremely stable neck-to-rim fit.

Oh, and a Guardian hard-shell openback case in mint condition is provided. Please note this case comes from a non-smoking, pet-free home and it fits the banjo nicely.

REASON FOR SELLING: My Nechville Orion resonator banjo was recently converted to an openback configuration (featured in my BHO homepage photo section) and this banjo is now taking over my needs for a clawhammer/old-time instrument.

The Bart Reiter 'Standard' is by far the most popular model in this manufacturer's lineup, which is why they always seem to be on back order (the Eldery Instruments link provided is of a very recent arrival of the A-scale banjo [called the “A-flat” by Bart Reiter and identical to what I am selling here]): elderly.com/instruments/banjos...banjo.htm

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This model banjo typically sells for around $1,295 new, not including tax or shipping, and that price DOES NOT include a hard-shell case (you have to purchase a case or gig-bag separately). Adding the cost of that case, plus the Nechville armrest and long-sought-after Ode tailpiece would elevate that $1,295 price tag into the region of around $1,500, not including shipping.

My price to you: $895 plus $75 for USPS Priority 3-day shipping insured. Your total cost: $970. (See 'UPDATE 20 MARCH' below!)

UPDATE 14 MARCH: Reasonable offers will be considered.
UPDATE 20 MARCH: Total priced reduced to $895 (includes shipping, insurance and PayPal fee!)

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PLEASE NOTE: This sale limited to CONUS only (contiguous United States).

If interested, please contact me through The Banjo Hangout and we'll work out the details.