keqwow1 - Posted - 11/20/2013:  16:43:18

I know this all comes down to personal opinion, but I was just curious for some opinions of others.  I am going back and forth between a Bart Reiter Tubaphone and an original 1920's Vega Tubaphone pot that has been fitted with an Eastman Whyte Ladie replacement neck.  

Opinions??  

revellfa - Posted - 11/20/2013:  17:07:25

You can get some idea by the soundclip of my Reiter Tubaphone on my hompage. The songs are Reiter Soldier's Joy and Old Spinning Wheel. I mounted the skin head...

jbalch - Posted - 11/20/2013:  17:09:12

Have you been able to play either or both banjos?

keqwow1 - Posted - 11/20/2013:  17:13:07

Yes...it is a tough call between them....

the-fish - Posted - 11/20/2013:  18:06:54

I'd go with the Reiter.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 11/20/2013:  18:30:02

Depends on the Reiter's shell,  if it's thinner with a bracket band, I'd go with that.  But if it's the thick Reiter rim with bolts through the shell, I'd choose the Vega because I prefer the bracket-band shells.

Sven57 - Posted - 11/20/2013:  19:17:27

Vega.....in a heartbeat.  

Edited by - Sven57 on 11/20/2013 19:17:40

jbalch - Posted - 11/20/2013:  20:05:25

Since you actually can play them both ... I'd recommend spending a little bit of time with each and choose the one that really speaks to you personally.  Neither banjo is collectable (IMHO).  So the only ways to differentiate are on the basis of: sound, playability, and feel. 

I've owned a few converted Vega tubaphones.  One was truly incredible.  Others were good (but not as great). 

I've also owned one (and played a few other) Reiter tubaphone(s). The best sounding Reiter tubaphone I have personally played was a recent production model with Bart's standard 3-ply rim and bracket shoes (rather than a bracket band). That particular banjo had a fantastic throaty sound that really pleased me.

So my point is, whether it is an old Vega with a conversion neck or a new Reiter banjo, only you can decide which will work best for you.

I'm on record as a big fan of Bart's banjos. If everything else was truly equal, I would choose an original Reiter banjo over a converted Vega with a Chinese-made neck. But that is just me.  Best wishes!

BDCA - Posted - 11/20/2013:  22:07:24

My last 5 string was a Vega which I sold in 1970. I recently acquired a Reiter custom Tubaphone, and while I don't feel qualified to comment on the sound compared to an Eastman I have played since set up plays such a big role, there is something uncanny about the Reiter that I have not experienced with any of my other more expensive, fine and vintage banjos. It just seems like it wants to be played.Knowing that Bart built that banjo with his own hands, chose the woods and inlays just makes it extra special. Call it aesthetics..it's not anything I can really point to..just a really good feeling when I pull that instrument out of it's case. I guess I am proud to own it.

I doubt I would have that same feeling about a converted Vega tenor with a Chinese neck.

Cya!

Bob

Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 11/20/2013:  22:31:35

quote:

---

Originally posted by keqwow1

 

I know this all comes down to personal opinion, but I was just curious for some opinions of others.  I am going back and forth between a Bart Reiter Tubaphone and an original 1920's Vega Tubaphone pot that has been fitted with an Eastman Whyte Ladie replacement neck.  

Opinions??  

---

 I currently own two old Tubaphones, one old Whyte Laydie, and have owned quite a few other old Vegas in the past.   And despite Vega's high prewar quality control, none of those banjos have sounded quite the same -even with identical setups- so the question is really which banjo seems to work the best for you?   (Me?   I kept the best-sounding ones -despite the fact that they're mostly very basic models- and sold a mint #3 carved-heel and engraved griffin Tubby because it simply didn't sound all that hot -no matter how it was set up.)

Remember that looks, date of manufacture, or county of origin are all unimportant when considered against how the instrument feels in your hands and whether or not it makes the sounds you need/want to hear.

jbalch - Posted - 11/21/2013:  12:32:02

I went back and read my comment from yesterday - I didn't mean to be so negative sounding toward the Chinese Eastman products. I don't really have a problem with the import.  They are very decent banjos.  I've only seen one or two of the Eastman WL banjos.  They look good and are accurate copies of the old thin-rim Vega style.

My preference for a Reiter is based on the fact that I really like his banjos.  Plus, they are completely made by Bart in his Michigan shop.  The materials and components that he sources come for other known folks like: Jimmy Cox (maple rims), Bill Rickard (tubaphone rings), and Stew-Mac hardware.  I personally know Bart & Bill Rickard.  I've not met Jimmy Cox, but am very familiar with his rims.  I just like supporting these guys.  It is all-the-more rewarding when they make a superior product at a great value.

Edited by - jbalch on 11/21/2013 12:44:52

keqwow1 - Posted - 11/21/2013:  16:32:14

Yeah...I think I will probably go with the Reiter. I really like the idea of a banjo that is made by one master craftsman. I do wish it had a little more in the way of inlays etc, but quite frankly, an Eastman neck is not the way to go if one is interested in the inlays. When it comes down to it, some day perhaps I'll be able to get my hands on an all original tubaphone....who knows...maybe I'll win the lottery and find a #9 at a yard sale :) I won't hold my breath though. For now, the Reiter is probably the way to go. We'll see when I get down to the shop again next week and play it one more time.

jbalch - Posted - 11/22/2013:  03:59:04

Back in 1994 when Bart was still making custom and fancy instruments, I ordered my "dream" banjo - an a-scale Grand Concert-Plus with hybrid Vega & Bacon inlay.  It is a fantastic instrument.  The wood is beautiful.  The inlay and engraving are very good.  The carving (by Ron Chacy) is some of the best I've ever seen.  I'm very glad I have the banjo.

BUT ...like Bart ... I got over all of the fancy stuff a while back.  Some of my favorite banjos to play today are plain-Jane models that just sound and feel right.  The one I play most is a 2006 Reiter Bacophone-Plus w/ stars & dots inlay.  It has a little bit of a special MoJo that really speaks to me.

Best wishes - I hope you find THE perfect instrument for you.

Reiter Bacophone-plus	Reiter Grand Concert back	Reiter Grand Concert front	Reiter Grand Concert carving
Reiter Grand Concert	Reiter Grand Concert pegs

keqwow1 - Posted - 11/22/2013:  13:47:24

WOW...that Grand Concert is a beautiful looking instrument!!!

BDCA - Posted - 11/22/2013:  15:29:24

I was over at a guitar playing friends house after an Irish gig and a visiting old time fiddler was there. We were talking about playing a few tunes but I complained that I only had a tenor. The fiddler mentioned that he had seen a banjo case in the corner somewhere. I'm thinking this is going to be ugly..some beat up crappy Asian banjo or worse.

I open the case an it's a Grand Concert! That banjo was SWEET. I played it the whole evening and hated to put it back in the case. I told him I'd gladly cover what he paid for it ($750) with a few bucks to spare..

He didn't like my sense of humor. What a truly nice banjo!

...like Bart ... I got over all of the fancy stuff a while back.

In an email a while back, Bart mentioned that he's dropped the fancy stuff because he doesn't really recover the time and effort it takes to add the engraved inlays, etc, and does better making more but plainer instruments.

Cya!

Bob

Edited by - BDCA on 11/22/2013 15:32:21

bohemian - Posted - 11/22/2013:  15:36:05

Absolutely no question..or compromise..

Bart Reiter.

One of the worst features of the Eastman "Whyte Laydie" was the neck.

Edited by - bohemian on 11/22/2013 15:38:42

keqwow1 - Posted - 11/29/2013:  17:13:13

Just came home with my Reiter Tubaphone. I think I made the right choice. I just love the workmanship and it just sounds great. I am hoping he follows through with the banjo building workshop I saw mentioned. I'd love to take a workshop with him.