txguitar - Posted - 04/29/2019:  10:19:13

Hey everyone,

I am trying to find info on a Iida banjo. The listing only says custom made,
made in USA. Anyone know anything about Iida banjo's made in the US.
I would appreciate any info that anyone might have.

Thanks a lot--have a good week !!

deestexas - Posted - 04/29/2019:  10:23:57

Iida banjos were made in Japan.

Alvin Conder - Posted - 04/29/2019:  10:29:00

Having owned a few Iida banjos over the decades, I think they all say “Custom Made” on the truss cover.

Please post pictures, they are a few folks here who specialize in Japanese banjos.

Brian Murphy - Posted - 04/29/2019:  10:36:05

Link to page containing 1976 catalog

From Paul Hawthorne's site:  

Iida - pronounced EE-da. It is a man's name with one pronunciation, though sometimes read as Jida or Aida; the script I looks like an A or J. This is a change from what I previously had here, but a Pedro Martinez has been reported with the words IIDA PATENT stamped in the aluminum pot just to nail the point home; weird since I think Ode, Stewart Macdonald and someone in the 1920's whom I don't recall at the moment (Lange? Ludwig?) also did it first.) - Been around since the 70's. Full line then, from entry to typical Mastertone replica, model 235/ 240 were higher quality ones. They offered a 6 string banjo ala the Sonny Osborne/ JD Crowe motif in the early 80's; 5 long strings with an extra low one below the D and the regular shorter 5th string now being the 6th, still tuned to high g. There was also a lefty at one time. Current Masterclone banjos are very similar to Epiphone or Samick, but cost 50% more.

Images of a 1976 Iida banjo catalog here...

In the '70's catalog it says that Teduo (sp?) Iida (son of the senior Mr. Iida) became enamored of the 5-string and supervised design and construction in their own factory. They were one of the best acoustic instrument builders, esp in the high price range.

Model 232 - Current, maple, die cast (zinc?) FH tone ring, 2 pc flange, HF. Wholesaled by Kaman (at least).

Model 235. I have examined an (LH) mid 70's Model 235 Iida Masterclone and it is has an aluminum tone ring, multi ply pot, steel two piece flange, and a blackish/purplish finish with the light colored grain filler in the mahogany showing through, two concentric rings in the resonator, rough bare stain inside the resonator. Ugly. Not a very desirable instrument to me, corners definitely cut by the maker. I had no bid it on eBay even though it looked good after massaging the photos. I drove 900 miles up to Idaho to see it, lefties being fairly rare and I needed one....hunch had said not to bid; and hunch was right on. Too bad it was not like the model 240 below, I would have purchased it. I have since seen one with dark color grain filler.

236 - Flathead, apparently brass/ bronze tone ring, 2 piece flange, chrome, inlay pattern is a 2 part stylizes winged/ chevron pointing up, inlays repeated and becoming larger going up the neck. Fiddle cut peghead with inlays of stylized f holes and a stylized eagle coming out of the fingerboard wings motif at the top, also seen with alternate head inlay. The neck is mahogany, resonator sunburst flamed maple on both examples seen.... over all a bit odd.

Model 237 - From the 1976 catalog, the model 237 was a top-of-the line flatheads. Cast bell-brass tone ring, chrome, 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, three-piece 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 that avoided the cherry red of the RB-800 (thank goodness).

Model 238 - Likely was a chrome archtop, I have 3 original NOS chromed Iida arch top tone rings. This is a guess as to model number.

Model 239 - Gold version of model 237

Model 240 - From the 1978 catalog, the model 240 (archtop) was their top-of-the line archtop. It had cast bell-brass tone rings, solid maple resonators, 14-ply maple rims, rosewood fret boards, MOP inlays using Gibson's RB-3 wreath pattern, 2-way truss rods, three-piece maple necks, 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 that avoided the cherry red of the RB-800.

A satisfied owner writes : I have a model 240, in which they attempted to clone a RB-800 in all its gold glory with wreath inlay patterns on the rosewood fretboard, clamshell tailpiece, 20-hole bronze or brass arch-top tone ring, two piece flange, dual brass(?) coordinator rods, white and checkerboard binding along the neck and sides of the resonator, dual concentric ring inlays on resonator with a sunburst finish, etc., maple(?) neck. 6 or 7 ply laminated maple rim. The truss-rod cover says "Custom Built" in script. No other markings or numbers, other than the Iida inlay in the headstock and where "Mastertone" would appear at the last fret. Came with a 5-star clear head; nicely built (still solid as a tank and holds adjustments well), but a little too-much high frequency overtone which I have learned to control with a heavier tailpiece and thicker compensated bridge. I believe I paid about $700 for it new from a Milwaukee music store in 1978 (as a young man with more money than sense). It has proven to be a good banjo over the years.

ban-joe - Posted - 04/29/2019:  20:23:39

Just to clear up any remaining confusion over spelling:



iida



Once the Capital i “I” gets introduced, the spelling of that banjo goes haywire.



I’ve owned a few, good camp banjo you’re not afraid to take in the canoe, or a banjo light enough to take on a long picnic.

Nice playing neck, and surprisingly good tone from an aluminum pot.

Generally found on ebay for under $200.

(there are various models of various quality- I’ve only owned the non-bottlecap aluminum pot models)



I’ve never owned a good masterclone iida. I imagine they exist.

(Edit here: Given the earlier posts, good masterclone models obviously exist. I did not mean to question that. I only have experience with aluminum pot models.)

Edited by - ban-joe on 04/29/2019 20:32:29

desert rose - Posted - 04/29/2019:  20:23:43

As mentioned, ALL Iida instruments were made in Japan

Scott

Im banjobruce - Posted - 05/17/2019:  21:11:41

First off , not all Iidas were made in Japan . Later models were made in China or Korea as I understand it. I've had 3 , a 70 ' s bottle cap, Japanese (still have it) ; an early 70 ' s (Japanese ) mid range , very well made 13 ply pot , decorative inlays on the neck , but mediocre sounding . The last one does not say made in Japan so it may be Korean or Chinese (Samek ?) This one is a nicely finished , flat head that weighs over 10 pounds , has a great sound with great volume and projection.

Used Iidas, are usually a safe buy for little money .

desert rose - Posted - 05/20/2019:  22:24:55

Iida ceased to exist aftert 1993, I bought some of the existing parts when they closed the doors. Had friends in senior management.

They were a major maker and OEM maker in Japan until they shut down

Most of the information on Paul Hawthornes site is from me

Scott