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This listing is for a vintage Iida brand 5 string banjo which was manufactured sometime in the 1970s or early 1980s. This model is their # 235 flathead style. The instrument is ofsolid mahogany neck andsolid resonator construction. The hardware is chrome plated with the factory 4 to 1geared high quality tuning keys with a 5 to 1 fifth string tuner. The inlay is all factory done solid mother or pearl on the neck and the fiddle cut style peg head. There is very minimal wear to the frets at the 2nd and 3rd fret. There is one cosmetic flaw in the form of a gouge in the outside rim of the resonator near the topwhich I have depicted in the last photo which does not penetrate the wall of the wood and can be easily repaired if desired.The tone ring is a high quality cast tone ring matched to a multi plysolid hard maple construction rim with dual adjustment coordinator rods and a fully adjustable trussrod in the neck. This model was the \"MasterClone\" of the Iida banjos and was their version answer to the more expensiveAmerican made instruments which were available at that time and is a very heavy instrument weighing in at around 12 pounds. If you were to compare this instrument to the American made instruments in it\'s class it is arguably of comparable quality in it\'s construction quality and also it\'s sound capability. In any event, when the Japanese models ceased their construction in the mid 1980s and the manufacture was moved to Korea, the quality was severely compromised and the instruments were doomed as inferior quality instruments. These instruments are very hard to find today and are consequently highly prized by collectors and musicians alike. They, like the vintage made Japanese \"Gold Star\" instruments stand out as prized instruments which are comparable to the American made instruments of their day. I have attached a link to the Paul Hawthorne website which will provide further information on these and other Asian made banjos. [link removed by ].
Pleasetake note that this sale is a type of sale with no hidden reserve amount and as a result the highest buyer will win this item regardless of the amount so good luck and happy offerding!
Absolutely no overseas shipping.
On Feb-24-15 at 11:36:58 PST, seller added the following information:
I have attached a page from the 1976 Iida catalog depicting the features of this instrument as the last attached photo in the listing.
On Feb-24-15 at 13:03:17 PST, seller added the following information:
I am thinning my instrument collection and as a result am listing this Iida banjo along withthree others which are up for sale.
On Feb-24-15 at 21:59:25 PST, seller added the following information:
Also included in the sale is the original factory Iida hardshell case as shown in the photos.
