Interesting banjo from 1987. Professional with 5/8ths rim,no Bacon Tone ring,flush fret fretless neck,no adjustable truss rod,and no neck binding.
This is apparently the tone ring made from a bronze bearing sleeve from an oil rig drill or something. I would love to get some info on this. How many where used and on what models. Did he use these when starting the Professional model before sourcing the Bacon rings?
I have been monkeying around with the set up for a bit here. Medium steel strings,Ren head,and Fielding bridge and it sounds sooo nice! In a few days Im going to add a Fielding tailpiece,Morris bridge,and Red Nylguts and give that a whirl! Woo-hoo!
12 Comments |
 | jbalch says:
7/17/2015 10:43:46 AM
I have no idea about the origin of that tone ring. Will be interested to hear what others may know. Regardless, it looks basically like the Stew-Mac "rolled brass" ring Bart uses on the Special model. hangoutstorage.com/banjohangou...62012.jpg
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| jbalch says:
7/17/2015 10:45:40 AM
Also, Do you know if the flush frets are original? Or was it converted from a fretted banjo (or fretless)?
On another note - that WL deluxe you are selling looks great. Id be tempted if had not bought one a few months ago.
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 | Banjolution says:
7/17/2015 11:54:56 AM
I dont know if the flush frets are original? Jeez to think someone would rip the frets out of one of these banjos. Ouch. I emailed Bart asking about the ring but have not got a reply. Maybe i will send a pic of the fingerboard and ask if its original. I never even considered that it may not be...
Im not selling that Banjo John. Just saw it go up this morning and linked it. You have quite the collection of Reiter Banjos!! :) I saw a very fancy professional in an instrument shop yesterday. Similar to your A-scale but with engraved diamonds on the fretboard insteqd of #7 inlays. Otherwise carved heel,#7 peghead,griffin on back of peghead with backstrap. They were asking 4500. Seems too much too me...
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| jbalch says:
7/17/2015 12:09:52 PM
I should have looked close at the ad. Nice banjo.
There is no telling - you banjo could be 100% original. Bart did a lot of custom orders back then. But it also could have been modified. I think Bart has been on a long motorcycle vacation. Maybe he will respond upon his return.
Would someone modify an old Reiter? Yes I'm confident they might. I have a very rare fretless, 12", internal resonator banjo from the early 1990s. I don't play it and have considered selling it. One thing that has prevent my doing so, is the expectation that a buyer might modify it (add frets - some folks have expressed an interest in the banjo with that in mind).
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 | banjobart says:
7/17/2015 12:26:40 PM
I do not recall anything about this banjo. I tossed my records of pre-1990 banjos. I had a dozen extra heavy rolled brass salvaged tone rings I used about 25-30 years ago. Sorry for the late reply, I was in Alaska for a month, Bart.
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| Banjolution says:
7/17/2015 12:56:24 PM
Thanks Bart! Glad you were on vacation for a month!! :)
John: yeah that WL Deluxe sure is pretty. Man i would love to buy that fretless from you. I prefer a 12 inch rim personally. Would love to hear how the 12 inch IR combo sounds. Wow! I love playing fretless on Reiter 201 though. This is a sweet little Banjo!
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| banjobart says:
7/17/2015 1:12:31 PM
I did make a dozen or so flush fret banjos with maple veneer in the fret slots.
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| jbalch says:
7/17/2015 2:26:10 PM
Sounds like your banjo might be original and very rare. Congratulations.
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| jbalch says:
7/17/2015 2:30:26 PM
BTW - here are photos of the 12" fretless IR. These are a couple of years old. Since they were taken, I added a Rickard Dobson tone ring and change to a Stern Tanning high-grade calfskin head. banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=3322
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| Banjolution says:
7/17/2015 6:14:24 PM
Thanks for that info Bart! It looks like Maple to me. Im feeling like it is original.
John i have viewed those pics of your 12 inch fretless before. ;) I have drooled over all your banjos my friend. Lol.
So that one also had just a rolled brass ring and you just slapped a Dobson ring over that? Intriguing. I may have to try that with number 201 here! :) I was kind of bummed this banjo didnt have a Bacon ring. It sounds great as is but i cant help but wonder...
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| jbalch says:
7/17/2015 6:20:28 PM
The Rickard Dobson worked on my banjo because of the rim diameter, etc. But I think it might not be so easy on a 11" rim. Be sure to check all dimensions very carefully before trying.
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 | flailing says:
7/30/2015 2:45:32 PM
My 1988 IR (#310) has one of those extra heavy rolled brass tone rings Bart mentioned. Very nice sounds with its' J Balch hide head.
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