Brazos Custom Made 70s - Burst

Vintage 1970s Brazos 5-String Banjo – Deluxe Japanese Build, Flame Maple, Gold Hardware 🔥

Up for sale is a beautiful and great-sounding 1970s Brazos resonator banjo, one of the higher-quality Japanese-built instruments from the era.

This is NOT a beginner banjo—this is a full-weight, Mastertone-style build with:

• Flamed maple neck & resonator (killer figure)

• Gold-plated hardware

• Clear head

• Strong, bright bluegrass tone with great projection

• Smooth playing neck and solid feel

🧩 Unique Inlay Story

This banjo features a distinctive inlay pattern that’s not typical of standard production models.

I also have a second banjo (Sano brand) from the same era with the exact same headstock and fretboard inlay, shown in the photos.

My father was a professional inlay artist who trained under Michael Longworth and did contract inlay work. When these banjos came into the U.S. in the 1970s, he immediately recognized the pattern as matching one of his stencil designs and purchased both instruments at that time.

🎵 Tone-wise:

This one has a clear, punchy, bright response and holds its own against anything in this class. I kept the companion banjo for the Family collection—this one is the one I’m letting go.

🧼 Condition:

• Very clean overall

• Normal light wear for its age

• No structural issues

💰 $1,695

📍 Located in [Statesville or Morganton NC]