Daniel_eck - Posted - 10/08/2016:  22:37:56

I'm in the market for what I would consider my first life time banjo. I'm looking for under 1500 and want to get the most bang for my buck. I have my heart semi set on a reiter standard banjo. With only a 4 hour drive from my current home base to Lansing where they're made and where elderly instruments which you all seem to talk very highly of I was going to drive up there for my self purchased Christmas present.

I was just wondering if anyone had advice for or against this. Would it be better to search the classifieds here and maybe get an old-school banjo? If so, with so many to choose from, what should I look out for? As always advice is absolutely appreciated.

schaumannk - Posted - 10/08/2016:  23:52:13

My advice is to listen to what they have, and buy what you love. Getting your mind set on something because it is a good deal and in your price range, but not what you love the sound of and the feel of, will lead to disappointment.

There are very few banjos that wont be worth what you paid for them in ten years as long as you take care of them, so cost has to be considered in that light.

BanjoKatz - Posted - 10/09/2016:  00:03:04

I have a Reiter Standard for sale right now for $1,450.00 in the classified section Brand new unplayed.

Edited by - BanjoKatz on 10/09/2016 00:05:56

Mooooo - Posted - 10/09/2016:  00:33:33

Try out as many as possible to make sure which sound of banjo matches your style of playing and technique. I tried many banjos before I bought mine and I am happy I did. I imagine that most people will tell you to buy whatever they bought and are happy with, but it is a very personal thing. No matter what you read about the banjo you are interested in says about its' sound, quality, or tone....you should play it and decide for yourself. If someone you respect plays it and sounds great, that doesn't mean that you will sound like him or her. You have to play it and listen to how your playing style sounds. Every picker plays differently and every banjo sounds different depending on who is picking it. There are a billion variables in playing style and technique Also, check out as many different stores as you can. 1500 big ones should buy you a great sounding banjo. Made in the USA are usually the best quality and best customer service.

mbuk06 - Posted - 10/09/2016:  02:53:26

Your keeper banjo is a purely a matter of personal choice. Bart Reiter makes wonderful instruments that are a joy to play but so do many other makers.

All I want to say is play as many as you can, talk to the makers and have a whole bunch of fun choosing! 

Tom Paglia - Posted - 10/09/2016:  04:56:26

I bought my first banjo new before I knew how to play also. I had the owner of the music store play several banjos for me and soon realized there were certain differences in the tonal spectrums that were more pleasing to my ear than others. I still have and play my first banjo and I estimate it has more than 5,000 hours on it in 9 years of ownership. I purchased several over the years and the only one I traded was an open back I compromised on when I purchased it....I went back a year or two later and traded for the one I really liked and now I am satisfied.....it's a keeper.

I recommend you listen to several banjos and pay particular attention to the differences in the sound. Find one that pleases your ear and feels good in your hands and then consider price last. Over time, assuming you play, you will put thousands of hours on an instrument at well under $1/hr. so buy one that you like if you are buying a keeper. In the end you will be spending a lot of time with something and it should absolutely please you.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

banjered - Posted - 10/09/2016:  07:17:24

I doubt that very few of us banjo thumpers nail their "life-time-banjo" first time out of the gate. After thumping for 25+ years I am still refining my tastes and playing preferences. As above, play as many banjos as you can, especially at Elderly where you can have side by side comparisons, make the best choice you can while realizing that you very well may choose differently later as time and experience has had its way with you, and to be OK with that. Your hands, ears, and preferences are unique to you so go with that and good luck! banjered

jbalch - Posted - 10/09/2016:  11:04:21

I've been playing banjo for more than 45 years. I have owned more banjos than most music stores. My favorites...and the ones I play for fun, recording and performing...are relatively simple Bart Reiter banjos. I don't think you can beat them for the money. There is no doubt that a Reiter banjo can give a lifetime of use and enjoyment.

Today there is an unlimited range of great banjos available. Many players ultimately choose to spend more on custom instruments with specific features or beautiful decoration. That is a very worthy thing. Especially for an experienced player who may have developed specific preferences.

For a first "lifetime" quality player .... a Reiter us an excellent choice.

toetapper - Posted - 10/09/2016:  20:59:05

A Reiter banjo is a good choice for a lifetime banjo.

Edited by - toetapper on 10/09/2016 21:00:27

Craig_B - Posted - 10/11/2016:  14:06:32

Check Elderly's stock online before going (unless it isn't a long drive for you, and/or you just want a fun road trip). With many of the small makers, their stock varies based on limited and occasionally somewhat sporadic supply, and fluctuating demand/sales. I had to wait for my last visit until they had the several Pisgahs on hand that I wanted to audition.

Helix - Posted - 10/11/2016:  16:03:04

Los Gatos is close by Las Vegas, get that banjo quickly.

Nashvolk5 - Posted - 10/12/2016:  13:22:17

​I would recommend the Eastman EBJ-WL1. I've never owned one but I've heard so much good about them. It's the one I've had my heart set on.

John Gribble - Posted - 10/19/2016:  17:36:53

quote:

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Originally posted by Daniel_eck



I'm in the market for what I would consider my first life time banjo. I'm looking for under 1500 and want to get the most bang for my buck. I have my heart semi set on a reiter standard banjo. With only a 4 hour drive from my current home base to Lansing where they're made and where elderly instruments which you all seem to talk very highly of I was going to drive up there for my self purchased Christmas present.



I was just wondering if anyone had advice for or against this. Would it be better to search the classifieds here and maybe get an old-school banjo? If so, with so many to choose from, what should I look out for? As always advice is absolutely appreciated.

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I think your plan is a good one. Elderly is a place where you'll have access to a lot of what's available and having in mind a starting point (Reiter) means you've done your homework. 

The last time I visited a shop with a good selection of openbacks (Gryphon) I was just a looky-loo, but if I could have justified it, I would have bought a Reiter. A fine banjo and excellent value. 

mikehalloran - Posted - 10/19/2016:  20:52:08

quote:

---

Originally posted by Daniel_eck



I'm in the market for what I would consider my first life time banjo. I'm looking for under 1500 and want to get the most bang for my buck. I have my heart semi set on a reiter standard banjo. With only a 4 hour drive from my current home base to Lansing where they're made and where elderly instruments which you all seem to talk very highly of I was going to drive up there for my self purchased Christmas present.



I was just wondering if anyone had advice for or against this...

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ROAD TRIP!!!!!

Nothing beats playing a large number of banjos to help clarify what you are—and are not—looking for. 

You might find exactly what you want in your budget. It might cost less. Sometimes, you wind up placing your entire budget as a deposit on the one banjo that sings to your soul—and then spend the next 6 months paying it off. Trust me, the money won't matter when it's exactly what you want. 

My Reiter converted Vegaphone was a happy surprise when I found it at Gryphon in 1995. I would have paid more. When I found my blonde Pete Seeger at Marc Silber's and heard that bright, sparkly tone like Alex Hassilev's and Pete's (being blonde like theirs was icing on the cake), I had to have it and burned a hole into a credit card to make it mine.

Sometimes, a bargain can't be ignored. Neither my ODE/Muse long neck nor Fender Allegro XL cost very much and I couldn't resist. 

I recently heard recordings I made on the Fender and now regret having sold it. I still have the other three.

Edited by - mikehalloran on 10/19/2016 20:59:37

ceemonster - Posted - 10/19/2016:  21:32:59

[[[I was just wondering if anyone had advice for or against this]]]

None whatsoever.  Your thought is actually IMHO the best and smartest thing you could do, and how lucky you are to be within shooting distance of Elderly.  You can also check their in-stock online listings right up until the day to maximize your chances of being there when the banjo or banjos you're considering are in stock.  Elderly is close to Bart Reiter both geographically and in a long history, and they usually have a very good array of his wonderful banjos on hand, not to mention all kinds of other stuff for you to compare/contrast.  Safe drive, give yourself lots of time there, and have fun!

jato109 - Posted - 10/25/2016:  05:26:48

elderly,hmm, lots of beautiful banjos. but you've got to get lucky on the sales staff of the day.
my pick; Alvin @ morgan music in lebanon mo.

drbluegrass - Posted - 10/31/2016:  14:41:09

quote:

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Originally posted by jato109

 

elderly,hmm, lots of beautiful banjos. but you've got to get lucky on the sales staff of the day.

my pick; Alvin @ morgan music in lebanon mo.

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Alvin and Morgan Music are very, very, hard to beat.