Iida Mastertone Custom Tenor Banjo
Iida (pronounced EE-da) Custom made Mastertone 19 fret tenor banjo. This particular ‘model 237’ was built in Japan around the late 70’s and is one of their top of the line range. Current Masterclone banjos are very similar to Epiphone or Samick, but cost 50% more. They are very well built banjos using quality woods and cast metals and project a nice punchy bass resonance with sweet sustain. The photos show a clear head fitted but these banjos sound much nicer with a renaissance head which I recently fitted and as seen in the video. Gold plated clamshell adjustable tail piece, new strings and handmade celtic bridge. Model 237 – From the 1976 catalog was a top-of-the line flatheads. Cast bell-brass tone ring, gold plated, solid maple resonators, 14-ply maple rim, rosewood fret boards, MOP inlays using Gibson’s RB-Granada Hearts and Flowers pattern, 2-way truss rod, maple neck, and checker-board wood marquetry before the ivoroid grained binding. The design borrowed heavily from the RB-800 of the day, but with a Cremona finish. Comes with original brown leatherette covered hard case with plush blue velvet interior
- Gold plated metal parts
- Clamshell tail piece
- Genuine mother of pearl inlay
- Bell brass tone ring
- 14 maple ply laminated 1/2″ rim
- 2 piece tube & plate flange
- curly maple resonator
- Deluxe wood marquetry
- 5.1 gear ratio tuners
- Original case