Kasuga RB-1200 'Flying Eagle' Banjo - 1970s Japan

Before the flood of budget Asian banjos that followed in the 1980s and 90s, a handful of Japanese workshops in the 1970s set out to build genuinely serious bluegrass instruments, and Kasuga Gakki was chief among them. Working from Nagoya, Kasuga built a full line of Gibson Mastertone-inspired banjos, from the humble RB-400 right up through the curly maple, gold-plated RB-1500 "Wreath". Collectors and players who've spent time with them consistently come away surprised at how well-built the mid-to-upper models are, with flathead-style tone rings, multi-ply rims and genuinely ornate pearl inlay work that punches well above the price these instruments originally sold for. Kasuga wound down in the early-to-mid 1990s, and clean, all-original examples like this one are becoming harder to find.

This example is consistent with Kasuga's RB-1200 "Flying Eagle" model, the third tier from the top of their 1970s/80s catalogue. It presents in a two-tone sunburst over a lovely flamed maple resonator, with an ebony fingerboard carrying Kasuga's elaborate curling pearl inlay pattern, cream multi-ply binding on both neck and resonator, and nickel-plated hardware throughout, including a vented one-piece flange over a flathead-style tone ring. The peghead carries the gold-pinstriped "Kasuga" script logo with hand-painted floral and bird motifs on black lacquer, and a "MADE IN JAPAN" sticker on the reverse. Geared tuners with pearloid buttons are fitted, along with a geared fifth-string tuner. It comes complete with its original Kasuga hardshell case, orange plush lined.

It's in excellent, honest condition, with no signs of repair, replacement parts or non-original hardware visible, and presents as a genuinely well cared for example of one of the more sought-after Japanese banjos of the era.

Specifications:

Model: Kasuga RB-1200 "Flying Eagle" (Gibson Granada/Mastertone-Style, 1970s–80s)

Origin: Made in Japan (Kasuga Gakki, Nagoya)

Finish: Two-Tone Sunburst Over Flamed Maple Resonator

Neck: Mahogany with Truss Rod

Fingerboard: Ebony, Elaborate Pearl Inlay Pattern, Cream Binding

Rim: Multi-Ply Maple

Tone Ring: Flathead-Style Tone Ring, One-Piece Vented Flange

Hardware: Nickel-Plated

Tuners: Geared, Pearloid Buttons, Plus Geared 5th-String Tuner

Tailpiece: Nickel-Plated

Case: Original Kasuga Hardshell Case (Orange Plush Lined)