Starr Trek 11" 4-String 19-Fret Tenor Openback Banjo #442

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. It is a no-frills openback built around tone, response and playability: a curly maple tone rim, an African mahogany neck with a Pau Ferro fingerboard, and aged brass hardware. 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

• 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.
• Curly maple tone rim. Maple gives a clear, articulate note with good separation. On a tenor played with a flatpick, that clarity keeps fast melody lines and chord chops distinct instead of blurring together.
• 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.
• 24 brackets and a notched brass tension hoop. 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. This banjo has a golden brown stain that 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 tenor voice that fits the music. The curly maple rim, Renaissance head and Dotson bridge give a clear, warm note that holds up for Irish tunes and still sounds full on jazz chords.
• 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, for $1,495.
• 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 Superior gig bag.

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.