WaltV - Posted - 02/19/2017:  20:54:42

Howdy, I've been lurking around here for about 2 years and have just reserved a Bart Reiter Standard at Elderly Instruments and I had to tell someone!

For the past two years I've been learning on my Goodtime openback and I'd like to thank everyone for all the helpful posts I've been reading along the way. 

Elderly is out of the Standard right now so it might take a month, but I'm confident the wait will be worth it.

One of the posts I read indicated that Bart is going to retire after banjo #5000, and he was at #4400 at the end of 2016.  I'm glad to have chosen this time to get into banjo so that I could get one before it wasn't available anymore

Again, thanks for the all the helpful information that is found here. As a beginner I don't have much to contribute, but hopefully I can some day. 

Walt

Edited by - WaltV on 02/28/2017 10:53:45

WaltV - Posted - 02/19/2017:  22:15:46

PS: While I (we) wait, it would be cool if you could share what you think I will experience as the differences between the two. Not many banjos to try in Portland, Oregon other than the mass produced ones in guitar stores. My teacher recommended the Reiter from Elderly after I had already started favoring it.

George Flink - Posted - 02/19/2017:  23:13:46

BTW, Brooks Masten lives in Portland and makes wonderful banjos.

Don Huber - Posted - 02/19/2017:  23:28:56

I've had a Reiter Standard for 12 years . It's the finest open back banjo I've ever owned.

twelvefret - Posted - 02/20/2017:  03:40:20

quote:

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Originally posted by George Flink

 

BTW, Brooks Masten lives in Portland and makes wonderful banjos.

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Much more expensive than what the OP is purchasing, however.

twelvefret - Posted - 02/20/2017:  03:44:05

quote:

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Originally posted by WaltV

 

PS: While I (we) wait, it would be cool if you could share what you think I will experience as the differences between the two. Not many banjos to try in Portland, Oregon other than the mass produced ones in guitar stores. My teacher recommended the Reiter from Elderly after I had already started favoring it.

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I do not own a Reiter banjo. What I think you will experience is a different sound and a pride of owning a well made product that is highly regarded by amateur and professionals alike, Perhaps the Reiter will also be easier to play and be able to project volume with the loss of tone with little effort on your part. Please enjoy the process. I know it is hard to wait.

BanjoKatz - Posted - 02/20/2017:  07:45:00

If you want a Reiter Standard right now, I have one for sale that is unplayed for $1,200.00.

xzr6f7 - Posted - 02/20/2017:  07:57:05

A Reiter banjo will have a more substantial feel than a Good time, at least in my opinion. I bought a Reiter Bacophone in 2010. It's about the only banjo I play anymore. You won't be disappointed.

frailin - Posted - 02/20/2017:  08:04:23

It's your first.  Could be your only (they're that good).  Congrats!

workinprogress - Posted - 02/20/2017:  08:18:48

Hey Walt, I bought a Bart Rieter standard about 3 months ago, I could not be happier. I to just started playing banjo a couple of years ago and started out with couple of cheap starter banjos ,and the difference is amazing.I have not played any other quality banjos to compare it to ,but playing a quality banjo makes playing more enjoyable and fun.Good luck hope you get the banjo soon. 

tucsonsean - Posted - 02/20/2017:  09:34:53

Also BTW, Wildwood Banjos are made in Bend, Oregon, I believe, not too far from Portland. Also excellent banjos.

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 02/20/2017:  17:13:40

Bart's quality control is excellent.
In decaades of involvement with the banjo, I have never, ever heard of a Reiter that has any sort of
flaw in material, workmanship, or adjustment as it came from his shop.

They are great playing, great sounding banjos. Though you may *want* to buy other banjos, the Reiter you
have purchased could easily be the only banjo you will ever *need*.

I've had an "A" Scale Reiter for many years and it has never disappointed.

Congratulations on your new banjo!

WaltV - Posted - 02/21/2017:  19:50:41

Thanks for the info and the advice. I'm looking forward to my new Reiter, I think I made the right decision.

Clawdan - Posted - 02/22/2017:  05:29:55

WONDERFUL banjos.

Dan

hughstrawn - Posted - 02/22/2017:  05:40:25

I still have the Standard I bought in the mid to late 1990s. It has been one of my favorite sounding banjos (of the 50 or so I've gone through since then) and was designated my 'work' banjo. I had 2 other Reiters, an A-scale Whyte Laydied Standard and a Professional-internal resonator (why did I sell that one????). You can't go wrong with the Reiter--it'll be worth the wait.

dbrooks - Posted - 02/22/2017:  16:07:06

I have High's Whyte Laydie Regent (not Standard) with the outline of the removed star on the band around the pot. Thank you, Hugh, though I bought it from the individual who bought it from Hugh.  It is a wonderful banjo that I use with great satisfaction playing at our weekly contra dances.

David

GrizClaw - Posted - 02/22/2017:  16:19:40

I've owned two Bart Reiters, great banjos.

CEParagon124 - Posted - 02/25/2017:  07:29:55

I traded a Tut Taylor Tennessee resonated banjo I had bought for bluegrass for a Bart Reiter Whyte Laydie back in the 90's.

Great banjo and the instrument that ushered me into clawhammer playing.

When I acquired a high quality vintage instrument, I could not afford to own both, so I sold the Whyte Laydie on Ebay for more than I had in it.

I still miss it.

You will not be anything but pleased in a banjo of any quality from Bart. They all sound great.

Charlie Noyes

Don Huber - Posted - 02/25/2017:  12:52:27

Even though your mind is made up, I've posted this little clip of my Bart Standard in action. I think it's a good sample of the banjo's clean, crisp sound...even tuned down a step and then capoed up a fret!

Sorry for the crummy video quality on the non-closeup shot. One of our early poor quality videos!

youtu.be/m2VNwd2p9XE

WaltV - Posted - 02/27/2017:  14:36:57

Thanks for all the encouragement - and for the video link. It was great to have another clawhammer banjo video in the queue.

This morning I pulled the trigger on a Bart Reiter Buckbee with a cherry neck from Elderly. I emailed Bart and he said the next batch to Elderly will include some Standards but it won't get there for 3-4 weeks.

Not that my Goodtime isn't perfectly fine... but I've been looking at the headstocks of the Buckbee and the Standard over the weekend and the paddle headstock started to grow on me.

I've read here that its the same banjo with cosmetic differences like the star inlay and the shape of the headstock - so why not?

Hopefully the banjo will be here by the end of the week - got a hard case too. Elderly installed spikes for free, that was nice. I also got an armrest and they'll install that when they put on the spikes.

Time to put the Goodtime on Craigslist!

truenorth53 - Posted - 02/27/2017:  18:14:10

Good move Walt

biggib2 - Posted - 03/02/2017:  18:46:23

  I have Reiter Whyte Laydie Deluxe, bought it new and love it.  This banjo has a flaw which some other Reiter banjos share.  Namely the varnish on the peg head flakes off.  It sticks to the wood but not to the inlay,  (The banjo picture is NOT the Reiter.  It's a  mint Faribanks Vega Whyte Laydie #7 with the Flower Pot peg head.  The Reiter has a wreath.)

WaltV - Posted - 03/02/2017:  20:55:09

The Buckbee should be here on Saturday! This has been the longest week of my life.