The thing I appreciate most about this banjo is that Iida did not try to copy a high-end American banjo in its design and detail. Instead, they chose a different look. This Iida 236 has a mahogany neck with maple binding and stylized chevron maple inlays on a rosewood fretboard. It also comes with a fiddle style peghead with more maple inlays.
The figured flamed maple resonator with its “darkburst” high-gloss finish and rings is beautiful on this banjo. As an added bonus, the interior of the resonator is also finished. This is an upper-end Iida model so it has chrome plated hardware in excellent condition, two metal coordinator rods, a clear 5-star head, a two-piece flange, and a full-weight 20-hole-bell-brass tone ring.
This banjo is in remarkable condition when you consider it is around 45 years old. It’s all-original except for the compensated bridge and the brass plate truss rod cover that looks homemade. The truss rod works perfectly and the frets look almost unused. There are a few very minor scruffs and marks (see pictures).
It plays like a dream. The tone is loud and crisp.
This Iida 236 could be of interest to both a collector or a player.
Every Banjo we sell receives a professional setup in our shop at The Banjo Warehouse in Ohio.
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ABOUT:
Geoff Hohwald has been playing banjo since the 1960’s. He became active in the thriving bluegrass community in Ohio as a teenager while studying at Ohio State University. He has played professionally as a guitarist and banjo player with several bluegrass bands ever since. Geoff moved to Atlanta after college and co-founded the Watch and Learn publishing company. They now publish a full line of musical instrument instruction books and digital modules. He also owned several music stores in Atlanta from the 1980s through the mid-2000s and is still an active participant in the musical instrument re-sale community in the southeast.
Banjo Warehouse is a family business resulting from 50 years of experience in music and 40 years of experience in musical instrument retail sales and education. Our focus is on the 5-string flathead banjo, but we also occasionally have a good selection of guitars and mandolins (and other folk instruments).