erikforgod - Posted - 04/10/2012:  06:41:22

I really like the looks of this banjo but never played one, nor do I have access to one to try out...I know lots of folks swear by Bart Reiters banjos. Anybody have one of these? Pros and cons? For a price tag of U$S 995...seems like a fantastic deal on a fretless banjo. How do they compare to lets say Kevin Enochs Tradesman fretless banjos? Also I dont like the high notched tension hoop on this banjo...can an un-notched tension hoop...lets say ..by Bill Rickard be swapped out?

elderly.com/new_instruments/it...ANDFL.htm

RWJones1970 - Posted - 04/10/2012:  06:49:42

Brian Scott plays a Reiter Fretless and plays it well. You could write him a private e-mail his homepage is briscott99. Also, check out his youtube video playing his fretless called Old Fire On The Mountain/Breaking Up Christmas. 

erikforgod - Posted - 04/10/2012:  07:08:07

RW do you have the link?

RWJones1970 - Posted - 04/10/2012:  07:10:55

I dont have the link, sorry. Just put that title in the search bar at Youtube.

Edited by - RWJones1970 on 04/10/2012 07:12:01

Ho C Ying - Posted - 04/10/2012:  07:15:24

quote:

---

Originally posted by erikforgod

RW do you have the link?

---

banjohangout.org/myhangout/vid...rID=27373

jbalch - Posted - 04/10/2012:  07:36:07

There are significant differences between a Reiter Standard and an Enoch Tradesman.

Rim diameter - Reiter =11" , Tradesman = 12"

Rim thickness & Material: Reiter = 1/2" 2-ply maple,  Tradesman - multi-ply maple (very thin)

Fingerboard length - Reiter is a little longer.

Reiter - has two-way adjustable truss rod,  Enoch has non-adjustable graphite rod

Initial set-up - in my experience the Reiter is set up for low action (comfortable for me),  The Tradesman I had was set up for higher action (it might be ideal for some players - but required changes to suit me).

These are really quite different banjos.  Both are very well-made and fine fine quality.  The Tradesman will tend to sound more plunky because of its larger thin rim.  The Reiter will sound more focused and refined.

One more thing - Bart Reiter announced that he is backordered through the balance of 2012.  It might be several months before that banjo is in-stock again at Elderly....just a "head's-up.".  But It looks like there is one in stock a Gryphon Strings:  gryphonstrings.com/inventory/i...ype=5-st. Open Back&Query=5-st. Open Back Banjos

Re: The tension hoop.  The one on that photo on Elderly's site is sitting high due to the head crown height.  You could pull it down lower if a higher crown head was installed.  Bart uses Stewart Macdonald hardware.  They offer a grooved tension hoop that might be a direct replacement if you want to change it. You also might need to swap the hooks for a flat type of you change the hoop.  If it were me, I wouldn't change anything until after I played the banjo fo a while to evaluatie it in person.   

(Also...I have nothing against Bill Rickard hardware - I like it and use it.  You should inquire about the fit if you want to go that route).

erikforgod - Posted - 04/10/2012:  08:24:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by jbalch

There are significant differences between a Reiter Standard and an Enoch Tradesman.

Rim diameter - Reiter =11" , Tradesman = 12"

Rim thickness & Material: Reiter = 1/2" 2-ply maple,  Tradesman - multi-ply maple (very thin)

Fingerboard length - Reiter is a little longer.

Reiter - has two-way adjustable truss rod,  Enoch has non-adjustable graphite rod

Initial set-up - in my experience the Reiter is set up for low action (comfortable for me),  The Tradesman I had was set up for higher action (it might be ideal for some players - but required changes to suit me).

These are really quite different banjos.  Both are very well-made and fine fine quality.  The Tradesman will tend to sound more plunky because of its larger thin rim.  The Reiter will sound more focused and refined.

One more thing - Bart Reiter announced that he is backordered through the balance of 2012.  It might be several months before that banjo is in-stock again at Elderly....just a "head's-up.".  But It looks like there is one in stock a Gryphon Strings:  gryphonstrings.com/inventory/i...ype=5-st. Open Back&Query=5-st. Open Back Banjos

 

Re: The tension hoop.  The one on that photo on Elderly's site is sitting high due to the head crown height.  You could pull it down lower if a higher crown head was installed.  Bart uses Stewart Macdonald hardware.  They offer a grooved tension hoop that might be a direct replacement if you want to change it. You also might need to swap the hooks for a flat type of you change the hoop.  If it were me, I wouldn't change anything until after I played the banjo fo a while to evaluatie it in person.   

(Also...I have nothing against Bill Rickard hardware - I like it and use it.  You should inquire about the fit if you want to go that route).

 

 

---

John thanks for the detailed input and insight...I seem to remember on another thread I had read that you had mentioned in passing that you were concerned with the thinness of the 2 ply "Enoch" rims...dont know if this was a personal thing or something you noted from experience...can you elaborate on that a bit? THe thin ness of these rims caught my eye to and I wondered how they would hold up under time? They just dont look to sturdy to me...but I realize what do I know! How would the Reiter fretless sound with a Fiberskyn head in your opinion?

jbalch - Posted - 04/10/2012:  08:43:38

The thinness of the rim is not a structural issue (in my opinion). Both banjos are very well-made and reliable for long-term play.   But they do sound very different. 

In my experience, a very thin, multi-ply rim (and no tone ting) tends to sound "tubby"  and responds less to set-up changes.

On the other hand, the Reiter 2-ply maple naturally sounds sharper, clearer and more focused.  I think the Reiter construction responds very well to set-up changes too.  I think you can vary the tone in a wider range by changing the head type & tension, bridge, tailpiece, etc. 

Personally, I prefer the Reiter sound...but that is just me.  Others understandably want the big, open, tubby sound of a Tradesman. I'm mainly just pointing out differences. Sometimes we tend to write about (and rave about) what we own ...without giving real points of comparison.  I've owned a bunch of Bart Reiter banjos (and one tradesman - fretted).  I'm don't mean to criticize the tradesman... it is a cool banjo.  I'm really just commenting on differences.

Hope that helps.

Edited by - jbalch on 04/10/2012 08:44:38

erikforgod - Posted - 04/10/2012:  09:06:45

quote:

---

Originally posted by jbalch

The thinness of the rim is not a structural issue (in my opinion). Both banjos are very well-made and reliable for long-term play.   But they do sound very different. 

In my experience, a very thin, multi-ply rim (and no tone ting) tends to sound "tubby"  and responds less to set-up changes.

On the other hand, the Reiter 2-ply maple naturally sounds sharper, clearer and more focused.  I think the Reiter construction responds very well to set-up changes too.  I think you can vary the tone in a wider range by changing the head type & tension, bridge, tailpiece, etc. 

Personally, I prefer the Reiter sound...but that is just me.  Others understandably want the big, open, tubby sound of a Tradesman. I'm mainly just pointing out differences. Sometimes we tend to write about (and rave about) what we own ...without giving real points of comparison.  I've owned a bunch of Bart Reiter banjos (and one tradesman - fretted).  I'm don't mean to criticize the tradesman... it is a cool banjo.  I'm really just commenting on differences.

Hope that helps.

 

 

---

Thanks John...I really appreciate all of your help...I know I will make a well informed decision in the future when the time comes to purchase a fretless. I am making this fretless banjo a step-above what I have in my Goodtimes currently ( which I really love as simple as they are ) but I am hoping to keep this just under or slightly "over" U$S 1000. I think thats a fair price for a good quality fretless for a non-professional such as myself. Barts banjos strike me as being super high quality that doesnt bite you in the wallet so hard. I appreciate the fair prices he offers for his instruments for the work and skill he invests...Enoch banjos for that matter as well. cant Tradesman banjos be ordered with 11" rims as well or is only 12" rims the choice available? To me 12" rims seem a little to big...I really would prefer 11"..one of the things I like about Barts banjos as well! Not to mention I dont like banjos with alot of bling..I like raw wood and grain..I like banjos that have a simple yet elegant quality to them.

Edited by - erikforgod on 04/10/2012 09:09:07

jbalch - Posted - 04/10/2012:  14:58:03

I think the tradesman used to be available in 11".  Not sure if it still is.

The Tradesman is available in flush-fret models and half-fretted. (Reiter onlu offers full-fretless).

boondocker53 - Posted - 04/10/2012:  15:23:24

There is a Reiter fretless for sale in the BHO classifieds:

banjohangout.org/classifieds/d...cid=27971

m_watson - Posted - 04/11/2012:  07:43:10

I've had a Reiter Standard fretless for a few years. After experimenting with different heads, steel vs. gut vs. Nylgut strings, etc., I settled on genuine calfskin and medium steel strings. Skin just suits my tonal preference and keeps the brightness and sustain tempered a bit. The shape and feel of the neck is one of the banjo's best features. I added ebony knobs to the tuners, a nice match to the ebony fingerboard and peghead veneer. Bart's banjos are very well constructed, with quality fit and finish.

blockader - Posted - 04/11/2012:  08:29:17

ought to jump on that reiter fretless in the classifieds. theres also a brooks masten and a ramsey for about $1000.

-justin

Califiddler - Posted - 04/11/2012:  11:17:24

Why does that listing for the Reiter fretless designate the make of the banjo as "Round Peak Banjos"? The ad doesn't show up in response to a search for Bart Reiter banjos, apparently because of this "Round Peak Banjos" designation.

mikey5string - Posted - 04/12/2012:  06:56:00

I have a fretted Reiter standard and its a great banjo. As john mentioned they are very responsive to set up and can produce a wide array of tone depending on that.

I really want a fretless and have considered pulling the frets from my Reiter or perhaps trading...