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

We are proud to carry Starr Banjos, built by Chuck Ogsbury in Gold Hill, Colorado. You are viewing the actual banjo that you will 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 This Banjo 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. That is a big part of why the Starr Trek costs less than his other banjos, while the work that matters most for playability is still done by his hands. 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. Most players take the cover off anyway, so they can adjust the neck on the fly as the seasons change. This one is ready to go.
• Golden brown satin finish. A golden brown stain brings out the figure of the curly maple rim.

The Starr Trek: Chuck Ogsbury's Journey

The name Starr Trek comes from Chuck's lifelong journey as a banjo builder. Charles Starr Ogsbury began building banjos in the late 1950s while studying engineering at the University of Colorado in Boulder. In 1961 he and a group of friends founded Ode Banjos in Boulder, and he sold the company to Baldwin in 1966.

In 1971 Chuck and three partners started Ome Banjos in Gold Hill, in the mountains northwest of Boulder, and Ome became one of the best-known names in openback banjos. After selling Ome, Chuck kept building under his middle name, Starr, from his shop in Gold Hill. The Starr Trek brings more than six decades of his designs to a price more players can reach.

Why Banjo Studio Loves This Banjo

• A bigger tenor voice. The 12" curly maple rim, Renaissance head and Dotson bridge give a clear, warm note with extra depth, full enough for jazz chords and still clean for Irish tunes.
• Chuck's design at a lower price. You get a banjo designed, fretted, finished and signed by one of the most experienced builders working today, at a Starr Trek price.
• Easy to play. The 22-1/8" scale and 1-1/4" nut make reaches comfortable, and the open truss rod makes it simple to keep the neck adjusted.
• Ready to travel. It comes with a padded Ome Banjos gig bag.

Best for: Irish and jazz tenor players who want a fuller, louder openback voice, thanks to the 12" curly maple rim, Renaissance head and comfortable 22-1/8" scale.  

Professional Setup and Free Shipping

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. Shipping is free to the lower 48 states.  This banjo comes with jazz string and we can put a set of Irish strings for no charge.