C Crum - Posted - 07/19/2025:  07:13:42

I am trying to find a fair market value for an early Reiter banjo. I am trying to help an elderly friend liquidate some of his instruments and not being a banjo player, I have no clue on this one. Thanks.

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the-fish - Posted - 07/20/2025:  03:53:03

The same people who helped you on Facebook are the same people here
Wonder when people will figure that out

C Crum - Posted - 07/20/2025:  05:20:11

Yes, and I appreciate all the help on this. One of the comments on FB suggested I also post it here. Now I'm just trying to come up with a fair market value.

Pigeontown Banjo Co - Posted - 07/21/2025:  19:46:54

I don't think there's a premium for the early Reiters, despite their coolness. The market is very cool right now, so I'd expect this Reiter, which corresponds to a Standard, to sell relatively easily between $1000-1250, the lower the price the easier. A dealer would have it higher (say $2000) but I don't know who is buying them at those prices.

KCJones - Posted - 07/22/2025:  05:26:28

I'm not on Facebook. There's a ton of people here that aren't on Facebook.

If you price it at $1000 it will sell fairly quickly. If you go higher, it will sell slower but it'll sell. If you go lower than $1000 it will sell almost immediately. If you just want to liquidate it and aren't concerned about price, just sell it to a shop. Elderly would probably give you $800-$900 for it and then list it for $1700, and somehow it will sell at their asking price. Don't ask me how they do it though, reputation I guess.

You might be able to hold on and find someone with sentimental attachment to these early BR banjos and get a lot more. But then you're holding it for months, maybe years, and speculating. Probably not your goal.

KCJones - Posted - 07/22/2025:  05:38:35

If you just want to liquidate, it might make sense to go to St. Louis to sell it to a shop. Music Folk is where you should start if you go that route.



musicfolk.com/about-us/



If that doesn't work, Music Go Round would buy it and they've got a location in the city. musicgoround.com/sell-to-us/

If you know nothing about banjos and have never shipped an instrument, you probably shouldn't attempt to sell it online yourself. It's generally more hassle than it's worth, and at this price point you don't make any more money than just consigning/selling to a shop due to high shipping costs.

Edited by - KCJones on 07/22/2025 05:45:42