Bart Reiter Galax Reviews

Bart Reiter Galax submitted 1/9/2007 Submitter mike hansen (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased Elderly Year Purchased 2006 Price Paid historic exchange rates / currency converter Sound I've had this banjo for 5 months, and in that time I didn't change a thing...except the bridge...The sound, out of the box, is bright (as Bart's website explains)...if you want to hear an example visit my homepage and listen to "Some Tune -> Coo Coo".....The combination of the frosted head and the waverly tailpiece contribute to the brightness, which makes this banjo great for three finger or clawhammer (especially more melodic playing)...It's a loud banjo....Recently, however, I decided to put a calf-skin head on (from Bill Miller)...I also replaced the waverly tailpiece with a No-Knot. This mellowed out the sound and opened it up a bit...it now sounds more old-timey, especially the bass notes...Currently I have an 11/16 bridge made of walnut with a straight bottom....Overall, I really like the two sounds that I have pulled out of this banjo, and I look forward to future variations. This is my first Whyte Laydie tone ring...so the sound is new to me. Sound Rating 9 Setup Elderly set the banjo up really well. They marked and correctly set the bridge...The action was fine...the head was tight...they know what they are doing up there...Like I said, I have since changed the head from a frosted top to a calf skin, and I swapped the waverly tailpiece for a No-Knot...I really like the original set up, but I grew tired of the brightness...the skin head mellows the banjo down a lot, but the notes still sort of appear and disapear quickly--which seems to be the mark of the whyte laydie tone ring...Also, with this set up I have placed a small sponge between the dowl stick and the head (where the neck meets the pot)...This helps to take away the hollow sound, which may be a result of the No-Knot...(I may try the waverly with the skin next, so I can hear the difference)...currently I used D'Addario medium strings... Setup Rating 10 Appearance THis is a pretty, but Plain banjo. I like a mahogany neck, and this one is beautiful. However, I'm not crazy about the stained maple laminate pot. Structure-wise it is fantastic....I'm just not a fan of the stain. I also wish Bart Reiter did ebony rim caps. The bottom of the rim is painted black on this one. I think it would look really nice if he also painted a thin strip along the bottom edge of the pot (on the outside). This would give the illusion of binding, making the pot look more complete...I know that some of the low-quality banjos out there do this sort of thing and make it look cheesy, but I think Bart could do it tastfully...I also replaced the stock white tuning pegs with ebony ones...that way they match the headstock and fingerboard...I wish Bart would throw in a few special touches, just to make each model look a little different, but from what I hear Bart doesn't do too many custom touches anymore... Appearance Rating 8 Reliability This has been a really dependable banjo...it has traveled with me, and it seems like it will hold up...I only wish neck binding was a standard practice for Bart. The frets seem to be sticking out a bit...I suppose I will file them back a bit... Reliability Rating 9 Customer Service Elderly was great. I actually bought this banjo to test...They have a very good return policy...but it won me over. I contacted Bart about possibly getting a rosewood rimcap installed (he doesn't do ebony). He said that he would make on with a rosewood rim cap, but that he would not put one on mine (because it was too much of a pain). Customer Service 9 Components The neck is the real standout (as many have pointed out with Reiter Banjos)...Otherwise it's pretty basic...Overall I really like the look and feel of his banjos... Components Rating 9 Overall Comments I'm very happy with this banjo...It allows me to play a variety of styles, and it feels very solid and trustworthy. It gets the job done, for a really great price. Most other makers charge much more for their whyte laydie models, and frankly I don't think the Ramsey or the Lee I played sound or feel as good as my Reiter. I think I'm gonna keep this one around a while... Overall Rating 9

Bart Reiter Galax submitted 6/16/2006 Submitter pastorharry (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased Gryphon music Year Purchased 2006 Price Paid 1,170 ($US) Sound Great -"one does it all",all around openback banjo. Very loud, crisp and clear-plenty of variation in tone as you change right hand positions and move toward the neck or bridge.Sounds good any style played-3 finger,2 finger or frailed. Played hard or soft-it is an awesome sounding instrument. Sound Rating 9 Setup Setup was excellent-head adjustment and bridge placement ,tailpiece heigth all right on.Action low with standard 5/8 bridge no buzz but dangerously close on a couple frets. I immediatly put on a 5/8 heavy moon bridge (personal preference), and will add a vega repro armrest-might replace the 5 star head with a renissance,however this head sounds surprisingly good and well rounded for this banjo. Stock strings seem a little light for my personal tastes, which i will change to Ome mediums. Setup Rating 9 Appearance Beautiful, albeit plain banjo.Excellent star and dot inlay-no filler visable at all,nice color contrasts in the MOP.Mahogany neck and rim-painted black rim cap with tortise inside rim-coffee colored stain-perfectly done-no blotches-no sanding marks visable. Awesome job! Hardware heavy-top quality,new planet tuners-work perfectly.Perfect fret job on ebony fretboard, all workmanship A+ Appearance Rating 10 Reliability Hardware-solid! Finish is satin stain-thin, which I prefer over thick-asian type finishes.May wear in time,no big deal to me. This is my only steel string banjo which I will use for everything,seems very trustworthy. Reliability Rating 10 Customer Service Gryphon Music came highly recommended by none other than our own Bill Rogers, and they lived up to the rep in every way. I have to order banjos sight unseen living in Hawaii, and Tom at gryphon A/B'd two banjos for me over the phone, took time to answer all questions-very courtiously. They installed spikes for free and did a great job (Frank Ford ,HELLO??!!!) One year warrenty-Bart is well known for being very helpful if there's a problem or question. The banjo was ordered on tues. afternoon and arrived on thursday morning!!! Customer Service 10 Components Planet tuners-heavy duty notched rim,waverly tailpiece, nickle silverd frets, whyte laydie tonering. All parts excellent-would only upgrade bridge and include hotdog armrest.It would also be nice if Bart gave a choice of heads-although the 5 star is just fine. Components Rating 9 Overall Comments Highly recommended-after 30 banjos in 45 years. I might keep this one around. I LOVE it!!I especially love the neck-very similar to Wyatt Fawley's vega style necks,not quite as much V,a little softer, but very comfortable. Whyte Laydie tone rings rule!! BTW; what kind of a NUT would steal a banjo?? Overall Rating 10

Bart Reiter Galax submitted 4/28/2006 Submitter N8116B (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased Spruce Tree Music Year Purchased 2006 Price Paid 1100 ($US) Sound This banjo has a very full sound. The Whyte Ladie Tone ring add a lot of punch without a lot of metal sound that I was used ot with my previous banjo Sound Rating 8 Setup Item came set up and ready to play. Just a little tuning and off I went the only thing I added was of course a strap Setup Rating 9 Appearance Beautiful craftmanship! Dark Mahogany drum and neck with a ebony fretboard. The back edges of the drum are painted black. Appearance Rating 10 Reliability This seems like a very good and durable banjo. Bart's instruments have a good reputation for quality and this new model is of that tradition. Reliability Rating 8 Customer Service Spruce Tree was excellent to deal with and very friendly. I wanted to visit personally but had to change plans at the last minute. They were very accommodating and shipped the banjo to. With teh shipping a personal email was sent advising me of the status of the shipment. Customer Service 9 Components Comes from Bart Reiter with Whyte Laydie tone ring. Five Star frosted head on 11" diameter rim (24 brackets). Ebony fretboard, pearl star in peghead & dots on fretboard, planetary tuners, adjustable truss rod. Bottom edge of rim painted black. Banjo is named for the town of Galax, Virginia, which hosts a renowned yearly fiddle and banjo competition. The only thing I may add is some sort of armrest. The banjo can be ordered with an armrest as an option. Components Rating 9 Overall Comments I am still a newbie but this was a significant upgrade form my Deering Goodtime Special. The sound is much more mellow but just as loud. The sustain is much greater and the tolerances tighter. I am really enjoying the upgraded tuners Overall Rating 9