Prat Instruments: Gourd banjo

Submitted by Seppo Sillanpaa on 5/7/2016

Where Purchased: David Prat, Bacelona Spain

Year Purchased: 2016
Price Paid: Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter

Sound

This is a fretless gourd banjo equipped with Aquila minstrel nylgut strings an it is perfect for any oldtime or minstrel style playing. The sound is deep but selective
and quite loud compared to others I have played. It can be played soft and quiet and with a heavier attack without losing the rich guality of the sound

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

When David Prat set this banjo up he had 75% humidity in Spain and I had only 25% in my living room. David asked about the humidity before sending the banjo and he gave another goat skin for me to change if I have difficulties with humidity.
No problems so far. He also sent to me two different height bridges and I use the higher bridge when the climate is humid.

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

The gourd is strong and dry and well cleaned. All woodwork is done with care, I did not ask for any decorations or inlay work and the basic appearance is simple and plain which is fine with this type of instrument. I ordered ith with fiddle type pegs and he asked me if I'd like to have Peghed geared tuners. I said yes and found the very good. It did not affect the price and later I found out that he had payed quite a lot for those tuners that match the appearance of this minstrel instrument.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

There is no hardware :)

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

David is easy to deal with, very helpful and nice.
He sent me pictures from the beginning, let me choose the gourd from several options
asked the type of peghead etc.
I have emailed him several times to ask about the tuners, string type etc.
He does not seem to get tired of my questions.

Customer Service: 10

Components

I think the gourd is absolutely beautiful and I also like the looks and feel of the neck.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

Overall Rating: 10

Bart Reiter: Round Peak

Submitted by Seppo Sillanpaa on 10/12/2009

Where Purchased: The Music Emporium Lexington MA

Year Purchased: 2009
Price Paid: 1095 (including TKL ($US)

Sound

BR Round Peak suits my clawhammer style fine although I don't play Round Peak style- My style is more into modern melodic clawhammer with Scandinavian twists every now and then. The sound is richer and fuller than any of my recent banjos. I think there's every tone I need and if I wanted to adjust it it means that I'd have to stuff the rim with t-shirts or use a thinner bridge etc. It is also the first banjo whose sound I didn't need to adjust. It sounded fine right out of the case as soon as I had the bridge perfectly placed.

Sound Rating: 10

Setup

I received it well adjusted like another Reiter (Grand Concert) 17 years ago. The action was quite low without any buzzes and my personal liking is a little higher - so I switched to a Moon bridge which is a little higher. The quality of the banjo is so good that all adjusting is easy.

Setup Rating: 10

Appearance

Round Peak with stained mahogany woods looks stylish and I like the simple decorations; there's a star in the headstock and round dots on the fretboard. All materials seem to be high quality. I was a little disappointed about the neck finish - since it is mahogany with strong 'orange peel' appearance - the thin nitrocelluloid keeps it quite bumpy. I wonder if it just that I'm accustomed to very smooth polished necks? I'll bear with it but it may happen that I'll let someone put a heavier finish and sand it more even.

Appearance Rating: 9

Reliability

All metal hardware is 1st class and I believe it will last like my other Reiter has. The finish is thin (see> Appearance earlier)
I might be able to use this banjo solo and unamplified in a small club if I needed.

Reliability Rating: 9

Customer Service

I've only dealt with Joe Caruso from Music Emporium and he was great.

Customer Service: not rated

Components

Well, it's all fine but I really like how the banjo looks inside: The dowel stick, rim and neck are beautifully stained.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

This is the banjo I have been waiting for. The earlier Reiters have been quite trebly and right with less bass but this 12" mahogany rim together with brass tone ring together with Bart's high level craftmanship make it the perfect banjo for yours truly. Deep and clear.

Overall Rating: 10

Ramsey: Chanterelle Galaxy

Submitted by Seppo Sillanpaa on 3/22/2006

Where Purchased: Elderly

Year Purchased: 2004
Price Paid: 1400 ($US)

Sound

Chanterelle Galaxy has a Whyte Laydie tone ring in 12" pot which makes it deep and clear but rich and bassy as well. It is a fretless banjo, so I spent the first 4 hours just sliding those low notes up and down over and over again. By tinkering with the head tightness I am able to make it louder and crispier but I kinda like it quite loose. I have set it up once for nylon strings and down to open E tuning and that was also very pleasing. I wish I had a pair of these banjos but Mike Ramsey told me that 'only two exists, you have one and I have the other one.

Sound Rating: 9

Setup

The setup was quite good but since it is a fretless model I had to file the nut a little lower to make the 1st finger notes a little easier to achieve. The bridge was fine and it was fairly well set up.

Setup Rating: 9

Appearance

The output is excellent, Black ebony fretboard has abalone strips inlaid at each fret location, plus star-shaped position inlays in various 4- 5- and 8-point shapes. Ebony peghead has overlay with crescent moon and starry expanse in pearl and abalone . The neck is reddish stained curly maple with strong figures. 5-Star planetary pegs came with black buttons, like the geared 5th peg. Pot is stained black, 28 brackets, No-Knot tailpiece. Beautiful.

Appearance Rating: 10

Reliability

The hardware is first class like the staining. It is very stable, the neck is made for my wide fingers, plenty of room to move etc. I have recorded it solo and it comes out fine.

Reliability Rating: 10

Customer Service

Mike Ramsey has answered my personal emails very soon. He even told me how this special instrument came for him 'in a dream' I guess he was fooling around with the words Galax (fiddle gathering) and galaxy and it all came out in the shape of a beautiful oldtime banjo.

Customer Service: 10

Components

The wood is fine and the hardware as well.

Components Rating: 10

Overall Comments

For the price it is very good. I don't know what to do if somebody stole it, maybe I had to call Mike and ask if he's got any curly maple and pearly stars left.

Overall Rating: 10