Good morning from Minneapolis,
Starting this forum for owners of Bart Reiter banjos, share your recordings, appreciation for Bart and his banjos, along with any banjo wisdom you wish impart to others.
I love my Bart Reiter banjo, I purchased it specifically to learn clawhammer, I also play three finger bluegrass style on it too.
Post a picture of you with your Bart Reiter, or just the banjo.
Edited by - Rusty on 12/02/2022 06:30:56
Bart Reiter "Tubacon" (my name for it), unusual bacon over tubaphone tone ring configuration. With Jamaican goatskin from Jeff Menzies (tucked myself), Rickard tailpiece and armrest. Terrific banjo. The build quality of Bart Reiter banjos is second to none.
Beautiful banjo, I bet it sounds amazing!
Seems like the "Groups" function isn't as active as it used to be here on the BHO. But there is a Bart Reiter group.
I try to link all the relevant threads that I see ... so there is a central place to locate them. Feel free to participate and contribute anything that you like.
https://www.banjohangout.org/group/bartreiterbanjos
Here are a few random photos of a few of my current and former Reiter banjos:
Edited by - jbalch on 12/02/2022 09:31:33
I've got a 2012 round peak which I absolutely love. It's been a wonderful instrument for me. I've done some mods like skin head, waverly tuners, and half fretless with a brass overlay and I'm really happy with it. It's a monster for round peak style clawhammer. I worked for a dealer that sold Bart's banjos and began to really appreciate his work after seeing so many great and consistent banjos come through the shop.
On another note, in March 2020 Bart was kind enough to allow me the opportunity to spend a day in his shop and we built a banjo together just before he retired. It was a great experience and I'll never forget all the banjo building knowledge he passed on to me. I'm not building banjos as a job now because my life and career took an unexpected turn and I'm thousands of miles away from my shop, but I'll always enjoy building instruments and in the future I'll think about Bart every time I build a banjo!
-TD
Wow, super cool, be great to hear a tune on your banjo.
I bought a used Reiter of the REVERB site in brand new condition about 2 years ago. It was a good deal so I bought it even though I wanted a scooped neck and this one had frets all the way to the head. I sent a message to Bart whom I understood had just retired, to ask if he would scoop the neck for me. He sent his address and said to send it to him and put $100 in the case to cover the scoop and return postage to me (I live in Oregon). What a deal! He did the work on it the day he got it and put it back in the mail that afternoon. The work was perfect. This is a fantastic banjo. I also play clawhammer and do some Scruggs picking and in small groups indoors, this banjo works great for both.
Ruby and I both love this banjo (that's her in the picture)
I've for an early 90s Whyte Laydie #2 with the bracket band. Does anyone know if it has a truss rod or neck reinforcement, would like to run steel strings.
Also have a Dobaphone. I'll try to post pics when I get a chance later this week.
Grateful today for my amazing, banjo building friends and music! This is my trusty (dusty) Bart Reiter banjo ready for another year of play at the Afton Apple Orchard (now 17 and counting).
Bart Reiter gave me this banjo as a personal thank you for filming him and 37 others in the Banjo Builder series (remember that?). His generosity touched me deeply. But his gesture is consistent with the extraordinary old-time music community and the joyful tunes we all share.
Like all banjos, it's a gift that keeps on giving. Every October I play for literally thousands of people out celebrating God's abundance, spending a day with family in this beautiful place. In just HEARING a banjo, kids and grandparents dance, some sing, all smile.
There's no better job I know of than playing this joyful music to people. It makes all things brighter! Even if just for a moment... it's so worth it!
Edited by - frailin on 12/05/2022 11:20:01
Thanks for sharing, Craig, you always inspire me, and I pick up my Bart Reiter many days to play because of you.
I am working up my courage to eventually come to a local old time jam.
quote:
Originally posted by RustyGood morning from Minneapolis,
Starting this forum for owners of Bart Reiter banjos, share your recordings, appreciation for Bart and his banjos, along with any banjo wisdom you wish impart to others.
I love my Bart Reiter banjo, I purchased it specifically to learn clawhammer, I also play three finger bluegrass style on it too.
Post a picture of you with your Bart Reiter, or just the banjo.
Here is my Bart Reiter, forgot to post a picture.
My 1992- I think it’s a Special. I bought it used from Elderly Instruments in 1993, I think. It’s my fifth banjo, and the one I’ve kept for almost 30 years now.
Edited by - Potato on 12/08/2022 20:31:18
Beautiful, be great to hear it played.
Here is a picture of my 2020 Dobaphone with a John Balch head. Really fine instrument.
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