Vintage Japanese Made Iida Model 237 Flathead 5 String NR For Sale

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 # 237 flathead style. The instrument is ofsolid maple 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.The tone ring is a high quality cast bell brass 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 upgraded model which was above the\"MasterClone\" of the Iida banjos which had the addition of the checkerboard marquetry inlay on the neck and resonator along with the fancy sunburststain finish revealing the beautiful curly maple wood at the resonator and neck.This 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 constructionas well asit\'s sound producingcapability. 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. The last photo is the page from the 1976 Iida catalog showing this instrument. I have also attached a link to the Paul Hawthorne website which will provide further information on this and other Asian made banjos.[link removed by ]. I will add additional photos to this listing within the next couple of days.

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 13:04:25 PST, seller added the following information:

I am thinning my instrument collection and as a result am listing this vintage Iida banjo along withthree others which are up for sale.

On Feb-24-15 at 21:49:56 PST, seller added the following information:

Also included is the original Iida hardshell case as shown in the photos.