1970s Aria Masterclone-Style Resonator Tenor Banjo

Overview: I bought this from a local antiques picker and probably overpaid, but I'm a sucker for funky old '60s and '70s Japanese banjos. This one turns-out to be nicer-grade, though, and has a Mastertone-style rim design (ply with a flathead tonering and bracket band/flange). The flathead tonering's tweak is that it's aluminum and so this banjo has a good, poppy, Gibsonesque, straight-up sound to it but it's not heavy. These same banjos were sold under the Alvarez name, among others, with slight stylistic tweaks.

Interesting features: I like the understated inlays in the fretboard and the quirky, flattened headstock shape. This came with friction pegs on it and so that makes me think it may date to the very late '60s instead of the '70s, as many Arias were shipping with geared pegs by the '70s, as I recall. I swapped them out for a spare set of keystone-style, Kluson-like guitar tuners that fit-in well-enough with the vibe of the instrument. The other "feature" of this banjo is that it's somewhat grungy in the hardware and finish, so it has a lived-in, ready-to-roll-with-it sort-of look. I cleaned it up some but there's definitely pitting on that rim hardware that I left well-enough alone. It has a single coordinator rod setup in the rim.

Repairs included: I leveled/dressed the frets, fit new tuners, added two neck bolts inside the rim, and set it up. It's playing spot-on and ready to go. It's setup in CGDA tuning but I can restring and adjust to your taste.

• Weight: 6 lbs 5 oz
• Scale length: 22 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/16"
• Neck shape: medium-deeper V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 59/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 61/64"
• Head diameter: 11”
• Resonator diameter: 13 3/4"
• Depth overall at rim: 3 1/4"
• Rim wood: ply maple
• Tonering: flathead-style (but in aluminum)
• Bridge: maple/ebony
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 34w, 24w, 14, 10 for CGDA tuning
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-lower

Condition notes: As noted, the hardware and rim is a little grungy even after some cleaning. The tuners are swapped. There's chip-out at the headstock veneer near the base of one of the tuner ferrules. The finish shows some wear and tear but is mostly just discolored from age. The head was more grungy but cleaned-up to a respectable "well-used" look. It's a frosted-top and feels a little heavier so if you wanted more volume (why?), a fresh clear or Renaissance head would probably do it for you.

It comes with: No case, sorry.

Consignor tag: JW