I just picked up a new tubaphone and was wondering what woods Bart is using in the most recent banjos. I assume that the neck and main pot is Mahogany? What is used as the 'cap' on the rim bottom? It looks darker than the pot. Is the dowel stick also mahogany or is it stained maple?
11 Comments |
 | jbalch says:
12/3/2013 3:18:41 AM
The model specifications are on Bart's website.
reiterbanjos.com/tuba.html
The standard features of the tubaphone model are:
neck, rim & dowel stick - stained maple
rim cap - rosewood
From time-to-time, I have seen examples of Bart's banjos that vary from the "standard" catalog specs. So, I would not be surprised to see a tubaphone with a mahogany neck (instead of maple).
But I think the rims & dowel sticks are always maple. Also, the rim caps are rosewood (some models may lack the wooden rim cap and have a black painted edge instead).
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 | keqwow1 says:
12/3/2013 4:23:14 AM
I was assuming that his website was not up-to-date with the most recent models since his current tubaphone model does not include the 'fancy engraved flowerpot inlay peghead' like his website states. I have seen examples of his older tubaphone models (there is one being offered by Elderly), that has quite different features (inlay, bracket band, ivoroid bound fretboard etc) than his current models. I was just curious to know exactly what woods were used in my particular example.
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| jbalch says:
12/3/2013 4:43:38 AM
I think it is safe to say the rim is 3-ply maple. The dowel stick is also maple. The rim cap is Rosewood.
You should be able to see the grain of the neck wood and determine if it is maple (usually "straight grain" with minimal visible grain or figure) or Mahogany (with characteristic black specks in the grain). If the neck is maple, the grain should resemble that of the dowel stick.
Bart has made tubaphone banjos in several different configurations.
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 | BDCA says:
12/3/2013 5:54:13 AM
My 2002 has a beautiful flamed maple neck, flower pot and no bracket band. It plays itself.
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| keqwow1 says:
12/3/2013 4:38:21 PM
I lean towards it being a Mahogany neck and maple dowel stick, but would love to have this confirmed by Bart if he happens to be watching??
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| jbalch says:
12/3/2013 6:01:41 PM
I just linked a photo of the mahogany neck on my 2006 Galax-Plus. I also added a shot that gives a glimpse of the maple neck on my 2011 Bacophone-plus. For comparison.
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| keqwow1 says:
12/3/2013 6:04:35 PM
Here are photos of my actual banjo:
mandoweb.com/Instruments/Bart+...Back/3440
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| keqwow1 says:
12/3/2013 6:05:29 PM
The description on the page is just a copy-and-paste from his website, so again, not accurate.
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| jbalch says:
12/3/2013 6:08:38 PM
That is a mahogany neck, maple rim & dowel stick, rosewood rim cap...no doubt about it.
BTW - personally I prefer tubaphone banjos with mahogany necks. I thing the wood "warms" the tone a bit.
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| keqwow1 says:
12/3/2013 6:14:12 PM
Thanks. I definitely like the tone. And even though I would love to have a banjo with all of the inlay, the simple and yet extremely fine craftsmanship of this example is every bit as appealing to me. I also like the grainy texture of the mahogany neck. It is just a nice looking and sounding banjo all around. A nice upgrade to my old 1st generation Deering Goodtime.
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| jbalch says:
12/3/2013 6:21:18 PM
My fancy banjos are great ... but the ones I play most of the time are simple just like yours. It is all about the sound and feel.
Extra pearl in the headstock doesn't improve the tone or response. ;<)
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