{"product_id":"kasuga-rb-1200-flying-eagle-banjo-1970s-japan","title":"Kasuga RB-1200 'Flying Eagle' Banjo - 1970s Japan","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBefore 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eIt'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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModel\u003c\/strong\u003e: Kasuga RB-1200 \"Flying Eagle\" (Gibson Granada\/Mastertone-Style, 1970s–80s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e: Made in Japan (Kasuga Gakki, Nagoya)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish\u003c\/strong\u003e: Two-Tone Sunburst Over Flamed Maple Resonator\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNeck\u003c\/strong\u003e: Mahogany with Truss Rod\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFingerboard\u003c\/strong\u003e: Ebony, Elaborate Pearl Inlay Pattern, Cream Binding\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRim\u003c\/strong\u003e: Multi-Ply Maple\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTone Ring\u003c\/strong\u003e: Flathead-Style Tone Ring, One-Piece Vented Flange\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardware\u003c\/strong\u003e: Nickel-Plated\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTuners\u003c\/strong\u003e: Geared, Pearloid Buttons, Plus Geared 5th-String Tuner\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTailpiece\u003c\/strong\u003e: Nickel-Plated\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCase\u003c\/strong\u003e: Original Kasuga Hardshell Case (Orange Plush Lined)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kasuga","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074556797081,"sku":"26197","price":1150.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0283\/1905\/6012\/files\/1_1fb27f04-2e5e-4051-920d-3360dbe0a2dd.png?v=1790137075","url":"https:\/\/www.premierguitars.com.au\/products\/kasuga-rb-1200-flying-eagle-banjo-1970s-japan","provider":"Premier Guitars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}