1973 Aria Deluxe 5 string Banjo (No Case) All Original! Priced to move! High Quality Japanese Banjo! Note: the back of the headstock has the word 'Japan' impressed in it, it doesn't say 'second' or 'used' This is a 1st Quality Banjo For Sure!!
Price refinements - Carousel
Showing slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES} - Price refinements
Vintage Aria 5 String Banjo 38' Long
Pre-Owned
From United States
Buy It Now
Customs services and international tracking provided1960’s Aria Custom Banjo W/original Case
Pre-Owned
From United States
or Best Offer
CLEAN ARIA SB 5-string Banjo, Gloss Finish with MIJ hard-case plus
From United States
or Best Offer
ARIA SB-10 Banjo
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
ARIA AM-20E
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
BRAND NEW ARIA SB-10G SIX STRING BANJO -24 BRACKET - 6 STRING BANJITAR
Brand New
From Canada
or Best Offer
8 Watching
ARIA aria banjo strap antique brown SPS-3500B ABR form JAPAN NEW
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
*ARIA aria banjo strap black SPS-3500B BK
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
Aria Banjo Strap Antique Brown SPS-3500B ABR Japan new.
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
Pre-Owned
From Japan
Buy It Now
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
Aria Banjo Tailpiece-NOS
Parts Only
From United States
or Best Offer
Customs services and international tracking providedBanjo ARIA (1970s)
Pre-Owned
From United States
Buy It Now
Aria 6-String Banjo Banjitar Remo Head Chrome Hardware Gloss Natural
Pre-Owned
From United States
Buy It Now
ARIA AM-20E Mandrin (21905
Pre-Owned
From Japan
Buy It Now
ARIA Banjo Strap Antique Brown SPS-3500B ABR from Japan*
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
ARIA (Aria) SPS-3500B BK Black Banjo Strap FREE shipping Worldwide
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
ARIA aria banjo strap antique brown SPS-3500B ABR
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
ARIA aria banjo strap black SPS-3500B BK
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
ARIA aria banjo strap antique brown SPS-3500B ABR w/Tracking# form JAPAN F/S NEW
Brand New
From Japan
Buy It Now
ARCHIVED TOPIC: Aria Banjo Identification |
Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/309890
aps-1 - Posted - 10/09/2015: 08:44:59
Hello all, first post. I have a question about identifying an Aria banjo that came into my shop. I know next to nothing about banjos and I would like to know what I can expect to bring from this banjo, what it is made of and what other pertinent information I might need to sell it effectively. I know that the banjo was a Japanese import in the 1970's and 1980's but that is all I know. I do not currently have pictures to attach but I will take them soon and attach them in a reply to this thread, If you wouldn't mind chiming in, I would appreciate the help.
Thanks,
Lucas
banjo-joe - Posted - 10/09/2015: 09:11:25
Scroll down to the banjo's to see which model you have:
aps-1 - Posted - 10/09/2015: 09:21:03
Thank you for the quick reply, it appears to be of the SB-20 variety, but there are no markings anywhere on the banjo to tell for sure. How could I confirm that this is the model that I have?
quote:
Originally posted by banjo-joe
Scroll down to the banjo's to see which model you have:
aps-1 - Posted - 10/09/2015: 09:23:52
Also, this banjo has bowtie shaped inlays on the neck. I don't know if that matters, but I thought I would include that.
banjo-joe - Posted - 10/09/2015: 09:42:07
Does is look like this? I bet it is a 1970's Bowtie, $250 + or -
aps-1 - Posted - 10/09/2015: 10:19:42
quote: Originally posted by banjo-joe
Does is look like this? I bet it is a 1970's Bowtie, $250 + or -
Yes! Thank you, that is the exact model of banjo I have!
Thanks again,
Lucas
Old Hickory - Posted - 10/09/2015: 12:11:11
I had one of these in 1972-73. They were good as either beginner's banjos or -- as in my case -- an affordable step up from an aluminum rimmed banjo. I paid $170 for mine, with case. I save a few bucks and took the plain black case that went with the lower level model instead of the brown imitation leather case that went with these.
Anyway, here's the rundown:
Mahogany neck, with bowtie inlays (copying Gibson Mastertone of 1950s-60s), dark binding (I think with a yellow or orange accent stripe), boxy imitation stair-step Kluson tuners with metal buttons instead of plastic. Rosewood veneered resonator with large 4-piece diamond pattern inlay on back. I think it's really a thin onlay or decal with layers of finish over it. Chrome plated pot metal Mastertone style tone ring slop-fit onto a very lightweight plywood rim. The top of the rim is either beveled or has a bead that goes up into the underside of the tone ring -- unlike a true Mastertone style fit in which only the lower inside edge of the ring contacts the top of the rim. Chrome plated 1-piece pot metal flange with oval holes with oval ears, a non-Gibson shape not used by anyone else at the time but similar to what Deering later came out with. I think the armrests were lightly engraved. Later on there was a deer head engraved on the tailpiece cover. Later models also had a white plastic truss rod cover with a seahorse on it. I don't think they made these past 1975. Around that time, Aria came out with the Pro or Pro II which were more outright Gibson copies -- though I think they still had multi-ply rims and pot-metal tone rings.
As said above, $250 to $300 is a going range for these. You'll see them advertised for $500 to $600, but those people are dreaming.
I happen to need the tension hoop off of one of these because I'm using the flange in my latest parts banjo and the hook holes don't line up with the notches in a standard notched hoop. So if you run into trouble selling yours, I'll consider buying it for $200 shipped so I can get the hoop then part the rest out.