Ed Banjer - Posted - 04/07/2015:  21:25:47

I've checked out some Bart Reiter banjos online. Other than the headstock shape and inlays (and price).....what is the difference between the Buckbee and Standard models?

Thanks!

ceemonster - Posted - 04/07/2015:  23:15:17

A Buckbee IS a Standard. Different cosmetics, that is all. The quality of the wood, pot assembly, components, and of course, the hand craftsmanship, are exactly the same. Both are 11-inch brass-hoop ring banjos. The "Standard" can be had in Maple as a "Special." And the "Buckbee" can be had in Mahogany, Walnut, and I believe occasionally Cherry.

Edited by - ceemonster on 04/07/2015 23:16:07

pastorharry - Posted - 04/08/2015:  01:29:37

I believe the rim on the Buckbee is a bit thinner than the other models.

jbalch - Posted - 04/08/2015:  05:15:29

quote:

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Originally posted by pastorharry

I believe the rim on the Buckbee is a bit thinner than the other models.

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 Harry:

The Buckbee, Standard & Round Peak (12") all have two-ply rims that are 1/2" thick.  Other models have thicker 3-ply rims.

Some folks prefer the lighter weight - thinner rims.

The website says that The Buckbee, Standard, and Special all have a "rolled brass" tone ring.  I'm not sure if Bart has standardized all three models to use the same tone ring or not.  He may well have done so.  Perhaps someone else will speak from experience with recent banjos.

In the past, I think Bart used a brass rod (made with approx. 3/8" round stock) on the thin-rim Standard and Round Peak models (Buckbee too? - I don't know).

The Special model traditionally had a slightly larger "rolled brass" hoop (made from 1/2 " tall bar stock - rather than a round rod).

Edited by - jbalch on 04/08/2015 05:19:37

banjered - Posted - 04/08/2015:  06:46:14

When I replaced the HOOP ring on my Saga Pony 10P with a round RING from StewMac, it significantly improved the sound. It went from a thin, shrill tone to a rounder, fuller tone and is now a favorite banjo for me. I put light strings on it and tune is up to open D so - someday! - I will a fiddler to back me up in songs.

I heard/read somewhere that Mr. Fielding used StewMac rings for his wonderful sounding banjos. Has anyone experimented with replacing one round tone ring with another? Was there any difference? Banjered

jbalch - Posted - 04/08/2015:  10:43:33

Tom:

I can't respond to your question directly.  But I have owned and played Reiter banjos with both types of the tone rings above.  Any differences between them are subtle (and might have as much to do with rim thickness as tone ring).  Both types respond very well to set-up choices and sound great.

Ed Banjer - Posted - 04/08/2015:  19:50:07

Much thanks for the responses. Your answers confirmed my suspicions that the differences are only cosmetic.