Vintage Japanese Made Iida Model 240 Top Model 5 String NR For Sale

This listing is for a vintage Iida brand 5 string banjo which wassold newin the late 1970s. This model is their # 240model which was the \"Top Of The Line\" professional grade banjo. The instrument is ofsolid maple neck andsolid maple resonator construction. The hardware isgold plated with much wear to the plating.The Iida gold plated factory 4 to 1geared high quality tuning keys with a 5 to 1 fifth string tuner. The inlay is all factoryconstruction solid mother or pearl on the neck and the fiddle cut style peg head.The tone ring is a high qualitybell brass arch top styletone 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 thetop model which wasoffered byIida. Some of the upgraded features are the addition of the checkerboard marquetry inlay on the neck and resonator along with the fancy sunburststain finish revealing the beautiful figured 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 13 pounds. This instrument is a beautifully made work of art which produces a great quality of sound and volume. 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 from that time on were doomed as inferior quality instruments. These instruments are very hard to find today and especially this particular model the 240which isconsequently 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 ]. Also included is the factory made hard shell case.I am thinning my instrument collection and as a result am listing this vintage Iida banjo along withthree others which are up for sale.

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!

I will be adding additional photos to this listing within the next couple of days.

Absolutely no overseas shipping.

On Feb-24-15 at 21:45:24 PST, seller added the following information:

The original Iida hardshell case is included in the sale.