This banjo is SOLD - pending completion - Thanks!




1994 Bart Reiter Grand Concert – internal resonator

I’m offering this great banjo from my personal collection – to help fund another Bart Reiter banjo purchase. Otherwise, I had really planned to keep this one. This is a rare opportunity to buy a long-discontinued and very desirable model.

There is a sound sample linked at "more information" below. Others are located on my BHO music page.

This Grand Concert is one serial number away from the fancy custom instrument I ordered from Bart & Elderly Instruments in 1994. I think it is from the pinnacle period of Bart’s career when he was still offering high-grade and custom instruments. Shortly after this banjo was made, Bart greatly simplified his offering and discontinued this and most of his high-grade models.

I am the third owner. I obtained it from a Nashville musician who owned the banjo for many years. I have been in touch with the original owner who bought it new from Spruce Tree Music. Details of this provenance will be provided with the sale.

This is a fine sounding internal resonator banjo. It is set up with a premium natural goat hide head (note: it was stamped with my original 3-star logo – before I initiated the SPECIAL Select 4-star rating). I added a Gary Sosebee bridge. Otherwise it is all original.

The frets are in remarkably good condition. The neck is straight and slim by Reiter standards (very comfortable). Playability is fantastic.

This Grand Concert has been played and well-loved. It shows honest evidence of much use. It is in player-grade, cosmetic, condition with expected finish checking, wear, nicks & chips (not a museum piece). The back of the resonator has some belt-buckle rash. The heel cap is worn from use of a strap with metal hooks. The finish is weather-checked and flaking on the flower pot inlay (normal for Reiter banjos of this vintage). There are no wood cracks, breaks, repairs, or structural issues. See the photos for details. Honestly – the condition makes it very appealing to me. “The good ones get played….”

Features:
Internal resonator with bacon-style tone ring
Figured maple neck
Engraved flower pot inlay in peg head
Deluxe peghead shape
Engraved fingerboard inlays
Bound fingerboard

Original early horseshoe neck brace – marked “Bart Reiter” I think the story goes that Bart reproduced this Vega-style part before it was commercially available. The early ones from this custom production are marked “Bart Reiter.” Later banjos use unmarked, off-the-shelf parts now commonly available from Stew-Mac. I really like finding these old original branded parts!

Other standard features of the model detailed here: reiterbanjos.com/grand.html

Old (original) TKL hardshell case.

Buyer will pay exact shipping cost with insurance (TBD).