IIDA 240 Versa-Tone 5- String Banjo 1970s Burst (aka AIDA, LIDA, JIDA)

1970’s IIDA 5 String Model 240 Arch Top Banjo w/ Gold Hardware and Hard Shell Case

Weighs in at 11.4 pounds.

I have always been partial toward older instruments. I am not a collector but when I start shopping, I typically look old. During all my quests I have probably only had maybe a half dozen older instruments that I would consider top quality.  This banjo is at the top of the list.

The banjo is apparently from the 1970’s but appears to have been played very little and kept in pristine conditions. There is very minor fret wear and some small dings but there is nothing that would indicate this banjo is 48 years old. It plays easy with clear tone on up the fretboard. The gold finish shows very little fading just a little wear on the armrest. It has a raised head (archtop) bell-brass tone ring, 14-ply maple rim that is bound on the inside, and tube and plate flange. The resonator is made of flame maple and is gorgeous inside and out. The binding is maple on the resonator, fingerboard and all around the maple rim. Virtually no fret wear visible. I did find a small 1/2" scratch on the resonator side near the neck. It scuffed the finish but is not through to wood.

Now for what I believe I know about this banjo. I have heard that the manufacturer name, IIDA, would be pronounced “EE – EE – DUH” no syllable accented. They made some nice and some average banjos back in that time. The 240 was their top of the line. It is a gold plated archtop. This banjo has no model number, no dates, no serial number so I cannot say for certain what model or age this is. It is gold plated and an archtop but the inlays do not match the catalogue picture from 1976. That is the only catalogue I found. There is a nameplate on the fretboard that says Versa-Tone. I have seen an IIDA tenor banjo that looks very similar that also says Versa-Tone.

I have not seen other 5-string IIDAs similar. I had an IIDA 240 that looked exactly like the 240 in the catalogue picture. That one was wonderful and had all the stickers to confirm it. This banjo is every bit as nice or nicer than the other.

Th original case is included. It is in very good condition. All latches and the handle work fine and no tears or breaks or chips however the binding strip that runs around the case is pulling out a bot on the bottom.

The one issue this banjo had was the headstock faceplate finish was all peeling off when I bought this guitar. The IIDA decal was attached to the finish and could not be salvaged. All the remaining inlay work was salvaged and carefully re-inlaid and re-finished. We made another decal from photographs of another IIDA. So the headstock has been refinished. It isn’t as nice as new but from a few feet appears fine and is mostly original.    

 

Below is from the 1976 IIDA Catalog:

The 240 is the finest banjo made by Iida. Every detail speaks of meticulous workmanship and superior materials. The Iida 240 is hand crafted under the personal supervision or Teruo Iida. It is an instrument that rivals the great pre-war banjos in tone and beauty.

Instrument making should not be a hurried process. A close look at the detail work on an Iida banjo shows that the Iida craftsmen have chosen the finest woods and carefully fashioned them into instruments of superior tone and beauty. The best Iida banjos feature solid maple resonators, delicately shaded and inlaid with a simple concentric design.

A lasting instrument must be constructed of quality, durable materials. The professional quality Iida banjos feature multiple-ply, hardwood rims for strength.

Intricate inlay work has always been the hallmark of the best banjo makers. For his own banjos, Terudo Iida has chosen the most popular traditional patterns and executed them with care and discretion.

Throughout the history of the banjo, certain designs have proven to be superior. Iida has drawn upon and improved these designs to offer you a complete line of banjos with full-bodied tone and smooth playability. The 239, 237 and 240 models feature a solid bell brass tone ring together with two-piece tube and plate flange construction. The tube and plate flange design is also featured on several of the more moderately priced Iida banjos. Every Iida banjo has 24 brackets for strength.

Subtlety and attention to detail set the finest instruments apart from the rest. An Iida banjo is soundly designed for lasting performance; it’s finish work makes it an object of lasting beauty. A hand-engraved armrest graces the better models, and every Iida banjo features either gold or chrome-plated metal parts. The traditional trap-door tailpiece gives several Iida models the look and feel of the great pre-war banjos.

For superior design, durability, beauty and excellence of tone, Iida banjos are unrivaled in their price range. Play an Iida – you’ll find that the great banjos of the 20’s and 30’s have been reborn.