Maintenance Q's for 1st time banjo owner

Premier Sponsors

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

Bart Reiter Banjos

Join This Group

For all things related to Bart Reiter banjos.

349 Members, Created 1/28/2011 -

Administrators: jbalch (owner)

< Back to Home

From GeoffB864 on 2/2/2022 12:03:07 PM

Hey everyone, bought my first banjo a little over a year ago. Was fortunate enough for my first banjo to be a Reiter 11 inch buckbee. I wondered if you all would answer some questions for me.

How often do you change your strings and are there any good videos that walk you through the process?

How often should I have to tighten the head? I've noticed that I drop from 90 to 84-86 in a few months time and wondered if that is normal. I keep it in the case when not playing it.

How often do people put a new head on a banjo? Only when it fails?

I wipe the neck down when I put it up. Should I be polishing the hardware regularly?

Should I be using fretboard oil?

Any armrest that you all recommend? When I was researching banjos I saw pisgah and others selling a wire vega type armrest but they seem to have stopped selling them. Now I see lots of wooden armrests for sale everywhere. Any that fit well and have similar stain colors?

I've played and maintained guitars for over 20 years but I'm new to the banjo so any help is greatly appreciated.

7 Comments
GeoffB864 says: 2/2/2022 11:47:34 AM I looked at the post about armrests. I may be wrong in calling the one I used to see a vega style armrest that I had seen from pisgah. It was a wire one.
GeoffB864 says: 2/3/2022 6:19:27 AM last question. I see lots of bridges out there that can be tried but they are different heights. What is the standard height for a bridge on a reiter? thank y'all for being patient with a beginner
GeoffB864 says: 2/10/2022 6:50:16 AM well, for anyone else new to banjo who may be wondering. the bridge height is 5/8. Bart uses high crown banjos on the Buckbee. He uses GHS PF115 strings. Everyone who sold the wire armrests is sold out. I don't know if it's a supply chain issue or they just weren't selling many. Good video on youtube by banjo lemonade on how to change strings. Very easy method. It appears that some are in the habit of using fretboard oil with every string change. And strings are changed when they begin to sound dull and/or stop staying in tune. sharing this in case the info helps any other new players
GeoffB864 says: 2/10/2022 7:18:58 AM *high crown banjo heads
	Gordy Ohliger says: 8/29/2023 2:32:33 PM I've never even heard of fretboard oil! A new head? If it's fine, leave it. . New strings, etc? I do serious maintenance every spring, before the gigs come in., be sure to let the strings settle-in about a week before a gig.
	Gordy Ohliger says: 8/29/2023 2:32:35 PM I've never even heard of fretboard oil! A new head? If it's fine, leave it. . New strings, etc? I do serious maintenance every spring, before the gigs come in., be sure to let the strings settle-in about a week before a gig.
	Gordy Ohliger says: 8/29/2023 2:32:37 PM I've never even heard of fretboard oil! A new head? If it's fine, leave it. . New strings, etc? I do serious maintenance every spring, before the gigs come in., be sure to let the strings settle-in about a week before a gig.
Post a Comment
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.

	Early Bart Reiter Regent w/HSC-Beautiful! Linked by jbalch 8 months ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 2 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 2 years ago
Blog Entry: Curtis Eller UK Album Release Tour: 9-23 October, 2024 Linked by curtiseller 2 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 2 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 2 years ago
Tablature: Crossing The Little Doe River Linked by eandreucci 2 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 3 years ago
Blog Entry: Curtis Eller's New Album Kickstarter! Linked by curtiseller 3 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by jbalch 4 years ago