suncityan - Posted - 09/07/2019:  12:41:06

I’m shopping for an open-back banjo and notice Bart Reiter’s banjos are pretty close to what I’m wanting. I’m wondering if anyone knows and would please tell me which model is the most mellow sounding? Living in an apartment building makes me need something producing sounds that would not penetrate to many walls. Thank you in advance, Suncityan

Parker135 - Posted - 09/07/2019:  12:49:05

Bart is a BHO member. I suggest sending him a pm. He has lots of fans here.

Texaspaul - Posted - 09/07/2019:  13:02:11

The standard would prolbably be the most mellow, but you can stuff the head on any model under the coordinator rod or dowel stick to tone it down.

jbalch - Posted - 09/07/2019:  13:18:17

I really like Bart's banjos. They are very affordable - yet truly suitable for professional playing.

Set up will be a BIG determinant of how mellow any banjo may sound.

The banjo I carry for travel (and playing in hotel rooms - at modest volume) - has a Dobson tone ring. I think it has a very "warm" and pleasing tone. "Mellow" is a good description.

So I'd consider Bart's Dobophone models.

suncityan - Posted - 09/07/2019:  14:35:23

Thank you for the suggestion. Looked around and found a video of that banjo with a 12" head being played and it indeed does sound mellow. Maybe I can find one to tryout.

Bob in CT - Posted - 09/08/2019:  11:38:15

The Round Peak model is also 12" and is mellow with a lot of base tone. As mentioned above, this is a good question for Bart. Go to his website and email him your questions. He's very responsive.

Andy B - Posted - 09/12/2019:  19:23:07

I believe that Reiter banjos come with a plastic head-replacing that with a hide head will also mellow out the sound some. And for apartment playing, a banjo mute or (as mentioned above) a sock stuffed between the dowel stick and the head will help keep the peace. In sum, you can make adjustments to any of the Reiter banjo models that will have the effect you are looking for but still leave you the option to increase your volume should you find yourself in a playing situation where that is desirable.

m06 - Posted - 09/14/2019:  04:34:53

I have two of Bart’s banjos; the 11” Galax with white lady ring and the 12” Round Peak with brass hoop.



Just to echo John’s comment that in my opinion a pre-owned and well cared for Reiter offers about the best quality for the price of any current hand-built banjo. Admittedly I’m very fortunate to have fretted and fretless Mac Traynham banjos that I prefer and are my main players but one was custom built and they cost me significantly more than my Reiters. 



Tone depends, as others have said, on set up. I’ve swapped out the original plastic heads for calf skin on my Galax and goatskin on my Round Peak. Neither were overly loud or piercing with plastic heads and both have mellowed, and to my ears improved, with skin heads and weightier tailpieces.



In addition to tone I advise that you also consider ‘fit’ i.e. whether 11” or 12” pot and 26” scale length is comfortable. Bart also makes a shorter A-scale banjo. The Galax is significantly heavier than the Round Peak. Bart’s necks are super consistent. I have small hands and don’t find them too narrow or too wide. His maple banjos have a little more cut and brightness to their sound as they are set up off the bench.

I hope this is helpful.

Edited by - m06 on 09/14/2019 04:48:36

m06 - Posted - 09/14/2019:  04:57:30

...also meant to add that loudness is determined largely by how we play. We can dial in and moderate or increase volume depending where we are and what we want. If you have thin walls you don’t have to hammer the bejesus out of your banjo at home. Just play a little softer and keep your neighbours sweet.

Edited by - m06 on 09/14/2019 04:59:59

suncityan - Posted - 09/14/2019:  05:01:21

I do appreciate the suggestions on considering Bart's larger diameter skin headed banjos, just never have seen or played that combination. I would suppose the skin heads are more susceptible to differences in humidity and really need to see if the different size will be anything I need to adjust to very much when playing.
Saw a couple old decrepit large diameter banjos in a used musical instrument store sometime back so the next time I get near it I'll go in and see if they might still have one to try for fit at least. I'm thinking they were four string versions but should suffice for a little handling.

suncityan - Posted - 09/14/2019:  05:28:23

You nailed it Mike, couldn't seem to ease up. However since selling my banjo a couple years ago and trying to learn to play a nylon stringed acoustical guitar I might be getting there. Picking the guitar seems to please everyone volume wise anyway and maybe playing one of the banjos suggested above as quietly as possible would be ok too.
Really would like to get back to my favorite instrument so much so that a very, very inexpensive 5 string banjo was purchased off Craigslist just to hang on the wall to look at.

Helix1 - Posted - 09/14/2019:  06:45:23

This not a sales message! I'm your neighbor. I like Bart, too. Contact me and confer with me here on my tailgate.  Get the used banjo like a '57 Chevy. 

We put sponge behind the bridge and under the bridge, so wall penetration in apartments is not an issue. A wooden clothespin with reversed blades is a great bridge mute.



I'm going to show you a picture of my work, note the 12" in the foreground. That's a Renaissance head.

Edited by - Helix1 on 09/14/2019 06:47:50

 

suncityan - Posted - 09/14/2019:  07:45:31

Those are beautiful Larry. Wish I was your neighbor but I'm from Sun City, Texas. Moved into a retirement apartment complex a couple years ago away from there.

Helix1 - Posted - 09/14/2019:  10:40:11

Dude that is funny as heck, we’re still neighbors, offer still stands

BrooksMT - Posted - 09/14/2019:  11:33:45

The best way I've found to lower volume is with a Mike's Mute. The tone changes considerably (I like it, but it's more guitar than banjo, to my ear). But the volume decrease is enough that my wife can't hear me play when I'm in the other room with the door shut. So neighbors should not have a reason to complain. There are a bunch of threads on BHO about Mike's Mute if you want more banjo player opinions. I have no financial or other interest in Mike's company, I'm just a satisfied customer.

mikesbanjomute.com/