Bart Reiter Student Reviews

Bart Reiter Student submitted 2/1/2007 Submitter Stev187 (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased Elderly Instruments Year Purchased 1995 Price Paid 500 ($US) (bought USED) Sound This is Bart Reiter banjo #46, his former "Student" model made back in 1984. This banjo is my soulmate. It has a crisp, clear tone that is just plunky enough. The sound decays at a moderate rate, but it can also sustain notes well. This was the perfect banjo for me playing in a string band. Sound Rating 10 Setup Soon after I bought the banjo, I had David in the Elderly repair shop scoop the fingerboard, add a taller bridge, and tweak the banjo for my agressive bass-player like clawhammer. Until now, I have had the same funky, discolored fiberskyn head on it. Lately I have been experimenting with new ones. Setup Rating 10 Appearance Bart no longer makes the student model. He told me that he upgrated the appointments on this model, which became his Standard. This banjo has a one-piece mahogany neck with a thin, dark Rosewood peghead vaneer. It has a rosewood fingerboard. The lines are subtle and elegant. Can you tell I love this banjo? Appearance Rating 10 Reliability Everything is very basic (the type A tailpiece, for example) and yes it has lasted. The finish is ROCK SOLID. This instrument has been ridden hard and put away wet for years. I used it for many years on gigs without backup. Reliability Rating 10 Customer Service I've never had to work with Bart about the banjo. When I inquired with him about the model, he sent a very prompt (but brief) reply to my question. He's earned the reputation he has--he's a great banjo builder. Customer Service 10 Components The Schaller tuners are functional but ugly. They are more accurate and dependable than any I've seen, which is why I don't replace them (though just about anything would look nicer). The Type A tailpiece is kinda cheap, but it's still working. [UPDATE: I have replaced the tailpiece and tuners: No-Knot tailpiece and 5-Star tuners. I'm really happy with them--I had to use acid to dull the finish so they would match the other hardware.] Components Rating 8 Overall Comments I can't be objective about this banjo. I feel very fortunate to have found it used when I did. If something happened to it, I would be very upset. I'd probably try to have Bart build another, but I'd get a 3-piece neck. This neck has stayed straight over the years, and I love it. Overall Rating 10