8 F holes but flowerpot peghead?

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Bart Reiter Banjos

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From Andyrhydycreuau on 10/21/2026 1:10:27 AM

I've just bought a Bart Reiter banjo listed as a Grand Concert. It has 8 F holes (FF Professional?) and the flowerpot peg head with star and scroll fret board (Grand Concert?)

I haven't received it yet, but am wondering which model it is. SN is 1257

I'm also wondering if the F holes and peghead / fretboard inlay are the only differences? (And therefore does the distinction even matter?) I've seen the old catalogues on a separate forum post.

The internal resonator models all seem to be the same spec for the pot except the number of holes?

And I'm wondering if there is any info on how many of each model were made. I've heard the 5000 banjos total number. 2 banjos a week for 50 years! Really impressive for a one man operation. But how many internal resonators in that number I wonder?

Btw I've always been interested in an original Bacon IR, but I value modern playability and construction over the joy of owning an original antique.

Cheers,

Andy

5 Comments
	jbalch says: 10/21/2026 7:13:22 AM #1257 is from 1995. That was an excellent period in Bart's career. Congratulations on your purchase. In the early 1990s, Bart set up a jig for cutting f-holes in the IR rims. Prior to that, they were cut by hand. So some had only 2 and upgraded models had 8. But after Bart set up the cutting jig, all of them have 8 - regardless of model.
	jbalch says: 10/21/2026 7:20:12 AM Here are links to photos of the old Internal Resonator models brochure: hangoutstorage.com/banjohangou...02026.jpg hangoutstorage.com/banjohangou...02026.jpg
	Andyrhydycreuau says: 10/21/2026 8:25:04 AM Thanks @jbalch. I've seen those catalogue photos on a separate post. Is it true that the only differences are in the peghead and fretboard inlays after the jig was built? (Outside of carved heels / backstraps or other optional upgrades?) This one has one of your hide heads apparently - I'm looking forward to that too!
	jbalch says: 10/22/2026 11:31:02 AM Yes - that is correct. Regular catalog models were differientated by the inlays - after the went to eight (8) holes as the standard. When I ordered my custom a-scale banjo in 1994 I requested eight (8) holes. At that time, Bart told me that eight (8) holes were the (new / recent) standard for all IR banjos. As you know, Bart made lots of one-off and custom instruments too. So you might see examples that don't conform to the "standards". Does you banjo have fingerboard binding? I don't recall exactly when he stopped that.
	Andyrhydycreuau says: 10/22/2026 11:34:33 AM Yes, bound finger board. Still haven't got the banjo though. I can post pics, but I think it's a pretty standard GC. Excited!
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