Starr Trek 12" 4-String 19-Fret Tenor Openback Banjo #441

Banjo Studio is proud to carry Starr Banjos, built by Chuck Ogsbury in Gold Hill, Colorado. You are viewing the actual banjo that you'll be purchasing.

The Starr Trek is a 4-string, 19-fret tenor banjo designed, finished and signed by Chuck Ogsbury. This one is built on a 12" curly maple tone rim, a size up from the standard 11" Starr Trek, which gives it a bigger, fuller voice. An African mahogany neck with a Pau Ferro fingerboard and aged brass hardware round it out, and with a 22-1/8" scale and a 1-1/4" nut it is right at home playing Irish melody or jazz chords.

What makes it unique:

12" curly maple tone rim: The larger 12" rim moves more air, so this banjo has more low end, more volume and a longer, rounder sustain. Maple still keeps each note clear and separated, so fast melody lines and chord chops stay distinct while sounding deeper and warmer than the 11" version.

Heartwood and sapwood armrest: The armrest is cut from a single piece of wood that holds both the dark heartwood and the pale sapwood, so it shows a natural two-tone line running through it. No two are alike, and it gives this banjo a look all its own.

Neck finished by Chuck in Gold Hill: The neck is made overseas, then Chuck files and dresses the frets, applies the finish and inlays the abalone Starr peghead star in his shop. His signature is on the back of the peghead.

African mahogany neck and Pau Ferro fingerboard: Mahogany is lighter and warmer than maple, which rounds off the top end of the maple rim. Pau Ferro is a dense, smooth fingerboard wood with a feel close to rosewood.

Notched brass tension hoop and plenty of brackets: More brackets spread head tension evenly around the rim, so the head stays stable and the tone stays focused.

Renaissance head and Dotson bridge: The Renaissance head adds warmth and takes the edge off the brightness of a frosted head. The hand-made maple-ebony bridge by Dotson passes string energy to the head cleanly and evenly.

No truss rod cover: The two-way adjustable truss rod is open at the peghead, so you can adjust the neck on the fly as the seasons change.

Golden brown satin finish: A golden brown stain brings out the figure of the curly maple rim.

Every banjo is professionally set up and checked by Banjo Studio before it leaves our shop, so it plays great right out of the box. It comes with a padded Ome Banjos gig bag. This banjo comes with jazz strings and we can put on a set of Irish strings at no charge. Shipping is free to the lower 48 states.

Specifications

NECK

Neck Wood: Select African Mahogany

Fingerboard: Pau Ferro

Peghead Overlay & Heel Cap: Pau Ferro

Inlays: Genuine Abalone Shell Peghead Star & Fingerboard Dots

Scale Length: 22-1/8"

Nut Width: 1-1/4"

Frets: 19

Truss Rod: Two-Way Adjustable, No Truss Rod Cover

Tuners: K&H Planetary Tuners with Amber Knobs

Finish: Golden-Brown Stain, Satin Polyurethane

Back of Peghead: Gold Hill Starr Colorado Stamp & Chuck Ogsbury Signature

POT

Rim: Curly Maple Tone Rim with Faux Tortoise Binding

Rim Diameter: 12"

Head: Renaissance

Brackets: 24

Tension Hoop: Notched Brass

Hardware: Aged Brass & Nickel

Armrest: Hardwood, Heartwood & Sapwood in One Piece

Rim Rod: Round Hardwood with Brass Trim

Tailpiece: Brass No-Knot

Bridge: Dotson Hand-Made Maple-Ebony

INCLUDED

Gig Bag: Ome Banjos Padded Gig Bag

Strings: D'Addario Jazz Tenor Strings (we can restring with Irish tenor strings on request)

Serial: 441