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Blakester - Posted - 12/31/2025: 11:19:48
I have bought a couple of Japanese banjos and seen several more. This one I am sure is just rebranded with someone else's name on it. Any thoughts on it? I know I have seen some guitars over the years with this name but can't remember seeing this before. Masada is the name on it.
Edited by - Blakester on 12/31/2025 11:21:19
pinenut - Posted - 12/31/2025: 11:38:19
These are nice banjos and have all sorts of names. (as-is the case is junk, proper latches make it usable)
Looks the same as the old MiJ Epiphone Masterbuilt with the 18oz tone ring, thick multi-ply rim, tube and plate flange and a good neck.
New tuners are worth considering; the originals tune coarse by modern standards.
Also, brass tailpieces have better tone than equivalent steel models; it's mostly noticeable to the 'player'.
I installed an older brass/bronze tone ring that fitted well in mine; worth the trouble.
Edited by - pinenut on 12/31/2025 11:53:35
Blakester - Posted - 12/31/2025: 12:05:34
quote:
Originally posted by pinenut
These are nice banjos and have all sorts of names. (as-is the case is junk, proper latches make it usable)
Looks the same as the old MiJ Epiphone Masterbuilt with the 18oz tone ring, thick multi-ply rim, tube and plate flange and a good neck.
New tuners are worth considering; the originals tune coarse by modern standards.
Also, brass tailpieces have better tone than equivalent steel models; it's mostly noticeable to the 'player'.
I installed an older brass/bronze tone ring that fitted well in mine; worth the trouble.
Thanks for the quick reply, Im gonna pick it up and do a little updating to it and bring some life back into it.
Banner Blue - Posted - 12/31/2025: 12:23:27
Kasuga made these. Dozens of different names on the same banjo model. The ones branded Alvarez sell faster for more money. Most have that yellow lined case.
Blakester - Posted - 12/31/2025: 12:30:15
quote:
Originally posted by Banner Blue
Kasuga made these. Dozens of different names on the same banjo model. The ones branded Alvarez sell faster for more money. Most have that yellow lined case.
Gotcha, thanks I knew there was many different names, I just hadn't ever seen this one before. Thanks again.
pinenut - Posted - 12/31/2025: 15:06:16
quote:
Originally posted by Blakester
quote:
Originally posted by Banner Blue
Most have that yellow lined case.
Those yellow cases tend to have that special Eau de Olde Banjo Parfum, mmmm mmm. It does go away with fresh air and sunshine; usually. 
Yours looks fresh and well kept. How's it smell?
Edited by - pinenut on 12/31/2025 15:06:44
Blakester - Posted - 12/31/2025: 15:11:15
quote:
Originally posted by pinenut
quote:
Originally posted by Blakester
quote:
Originally posted by Banner Blue
Most have that yellow lined case.
Those yellow cases tend to have that special Eau de Olde Banjo Parfum, mmmm mmm. It does go away with fresh air and sunshine; usually.
Yours looks fresh and well kept. How's it smell?
Picking it up Friday. I'll let you know lol.
kat eyz - Posted - 12/31/2025: 19:37:05
my first banjo back around 1982 or so was a used Alverez that looked extremely close to yours in the pic mine was chrome plated / full tone ring / one piece flange . Back then i knew nothing about banjo tone and setup etc etc . a friend with more knowledge told me the weak link in the chain on that banjo model was the rim. He was so right It was a long time ago but it seems like the rim was not a multi-ply but rather like a pressed particle board which gave the banjo a muted tone like the banjo had a head cold . got a new maple 3 ply rim from stu mac for 40 bucks and put it in and as green as i was i could not believe the huge tonal difference it made . I still have the banjo . Later on a few years i got a curly maple neck and resonator from stu mac and put on it . Its actually a very good banjo now Have fun with your new banjo project Blake !!!
banjowannabe - Posted - 01/01/2026: 04:27:48
quote:
Originally posted by pinenut
quote:
Originally posted by Blakester
quote:
Originally posted by Banner Blue
Most have that yellow lined case.
Those yellow cases tend to have that special Eau de Olde Banjo Parfum, mmmm mmm. It does go away with fresh air and sunshine; usually.
Yours looks fresh and well kept. How's it smell?
I had an old case for a Guild Aragon guitar. Tried everything to get the mildew smell out of it. Finally got an ozone generator (cheap) and pumped ozone into a sealed bag with the guitar case in it and kept it in there 24 hours. Had to vaccuum the dead mildew and mold carcasses out of there, but it cleared up the smell. I learned this technique from a car detailer who used ozone to get the cigarette smell out of cars. Works on almost anything if you can find a plastic bag big enough. Just be careful, it will rip up your lungs if breathed for any length of time.
Blakester - Posted - 01/01/2026: 04:57:08
quote:
Originally posted by kat eyz
my first banjo back around 1982 or so was a used Alverez that looked extremely close to yours in the pic mine was chrome plated / full tone ring / one piece flange . Back then i knew nothing about banjo tone and setup etc etc . a friend with more knowledge told me the weak link in the chain on that banjo model was the rim. He was so right It was a long time ago but it seems like the rim was not a multi-ply but rather like a pressed particle board which gave the banjo a muted tone like the banjo had a head cold . got a new maple 3 ply rim from stu mac for 40 bucks and put it in and as green as i was i could not believe the huge tonal difference it made . I still have the banjo . Later on a few years i got a curly maple neck and resonator from stu mac and put on it . Its actually a very good banjo now Have fun with your new banjo project Blake !!!
Yeah I'm really looking forward to getting this one in and working through it.
Happy New Year.
localhost - Posted - 01/07/2026: 18:08:33
I just picked up a similar vintage no-name one for dirt cheap on Craigslist. After disassemble, clean, new head and tailpiece (original tailpiece was bent), and then a good setup it sounds great. I weighed the tone ring and it was 2.25lbs.
Only gripe at the moment is that the neck is snug up to the tension hoop with no gap.
Blakester - Posted - 01/08/2026: 03:21:10
quote:
Originally posted by southerndrifter
Here's another Japanese-made banjo with a name I have never seen before. It's called a "Shiro".
Marketplace - Shiro 5 string banjo | Facebook
Yeah that's another one I haven't seen before either. I have quickly seen that there are so any different names usually on a very similar banjo too.
Blakester - Posted - 01/08/2026: 03:24:02
quote:
Originally posted by localhost
I just picked up a similar vintage no-name one for dirt cheap on Craigslist. After disassemble, clean, new head and tailpiece (original tailpiece was bent), and then a good setup it sounds great. I weighed the tone ring and it was 2.25lbs.
Only gripe at the moment is that the neck is snug up to the tension hoop with no gap.
I dropped this one off the other day and the local luthier went through it and cleaned it up and restrung it. Had nothing but good things to say when I picked it up. Sounds amazing now really rings loud and I am truly happy with it.
localhost - Posted - 01/08/2026: 18:34:50
Glad to hear you got it set up and that it sounds good!
desert rose - Posted - 01/16/2026: 23:39:35
Just to reinforce what was already offered this is a Kasuga made banjo they were the most prolific oem maker
Brett - Posted - 01/17/2026: 09:51:22
The Katsuga builds, regardless of name on peg head, really need adjustment and fitting to get the best tone out of what’s there. Necks that float without bearing firmly on heels do nothing to help tone. Makes them fast and easy to adjust neck angle. Same as American Vega. Another sleeper that turns on with removing air gaps between heel and rim.
