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StringTheoryGuitarAcademy - Posted - 06/28/2012: 10:07:25
I have an Iida banjo that I got for $80 CDN and it has a slightly twisted neck that doesn't appear to affect the playability, but I'm just starting out, so what do I know.
It's also missing the 5th string tuning peg which I assume is replaceable, but I'd like to know how to identify the model number.
I have seen a few websites with photos of other models, but nothing like this one. It's supposedly from around 1985, and was purchased "used"... It was also crawling in filth when I got it , so I took it apart as far as I dared and cleaned it up quite a bit...who knew that banjo heads were white ?!!? LOL
The headstock is fiddle shaped and has a decal that says "Iida EST. 1958". Chrome tuners, chrome tailpiece, aluminum tone ring, no arm rest [I'm hoping to alleviate that problem today...], three knurled cap nuts that hold the tone ring down and the anchor bolts are mounted in high quality [are you picking up the sarcasm here ?] black plastic and screwed to the resonator which is painted black inside. No idea what the neck is made of, probably mahogany...fretboard, too, also painted black. Fret markers are plastic dots inlaid into the fretboard and they appear to be clear plastic that was painted silver [Told you it was high end! Ya, the paint seems to come off when you use a damp cloth to clean it... ]
Anyway, any help ID'ing this ol' girl would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave
p.s. I tried attaching some photos, but the Attachment process didn't work [tried twice]! Any ides about that ? I'm using Google Chrome as a browser and Java is enabled...
StringTheoryGuitarAcademy - Posted - 06/28/2012: 15:04:12
Unfortunately, that's probably the only place I'll find anything! I've already looked at his info and it was inconclusive...
FWIW, I compared the Iida to a Gold Tone today, side by side at the music store and as I told my kids, there's nothing like a side by side with a GREAT banjo to show you just what a P.O.S. yours is... ;)
Keep trying folks, there's got to be something out there to help!
Thanks for trying!
Dave
beegee - Posted - 06/28/2012: 16:36:07
does it look like this: 
Klondike Waldo - Posted - 06/28/2012: 16:36:30
If there's a sticker on the back, the first few numbers are the model number, e.g 229T would be a model 229 tenor.
StringTheoryGuitarAcademy - Posted - 06/28/2012: 22:20:51
My knowledge of banjos is pretty limited to this point, but my brain tells me that tenors are the 4 string variety...is this accurate? My banjo is a 5 string that is missing the 5th string peg, and there are no stickers on it anywhere. I thought maybe the mention of the headstock decal would spark something for someone...
Thanks,
Dave
StringTheoryGuitarAcademy - Posted - 06/28/2012: 22:31:46
Oh, I forgot to mention about your picture...The resonator and neck are similar in colour, but the tone ring is very different. Mine has a solid ring with holes all around it for the hooks that tighten the head down and no other holes that would really let the sound out...there are 4 holes about 3/8" spaced equidistant ly around the ring, but I suspect that they are for mounting the arm rest on.
In spite of this, it's pretty loud! The head clamps are a J-hook with a locking washer and brass nut on the underside.
Klondike Waldo - Posted - 06/29/2012: 13:19:32
I think what you call the "tone ring" is what we call the rim. In the banjo pictured above ( which looks like my 229T except it has 5 strings) The tone ring is outlined as the round raised portion within the larger circle of the rim, which is also aluminum. In the model 299, that archtop tone ring is cast as one piece with the rim. MasterTone type banjos have a wooden rim with a metal tone ring seated on the wood.
Tenor and plectrum banjos are both 4-string varieties.
You're not really giving us much to work with here to enable us to help you identify your banjo, sorry.
On the other hand, you do pick up points for knowing it's Iida, not Jida or Aida
Edited by - Klondike Waldo on 06/29/2012 13:20:35
StringTheoryGuitarAcademy - Posted - 06/29/2012: 14:47:15
I thought I did pretty good without being able to upload pics ( for whatever reason the site wouldn't let me...I'll have to try from our laptop...
Anyway, thanks for the anatomy lesson, I'll work on my terminology!
Dave
StringTheoryGuitarAcademy - Posted - 07/01/2012: 09:39:08
How do you attach files ? I have tried twice now and they don't seem to want to stick to the message! I have clicked "Add Attachments" both above the Compose Quick Reply window and below in the Attachment List and neither way seems to accept the attachments! The only thing I can think of is I have to set something in my browser differently, or change the file extension to JPEG from JPG.
Any help is appreciated
Dave
