1980s 1981 Vol 3 Five String Banjo Flathead Series Catalog

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Flying Eagle

T-1200R-FE​

T-1200R-FE ¥132,000 (Banjo ¥120,000 Case ¥12,000) The phantom Prewar Mastertone 5 String Banjo is highly rated among bluegrass players and collectors. The 1200 R/FE is an authentic Banjo that faithfully replicates all of the pre-war Mastertones. The mania-like performance details such as the double cutaway peg head, mahogany neck, Belprones sand cast tone ring, and 3-ply wood rim are special specifications that can only be seen on the original and 1200R/FE. The tasteful resonator finish is also irresistible. The powerful sound unique to the flat top and rich sustain in the high range, along with its sound concept, can be said to be the return of the pre-war master tone. The inlay pattern is a flying eagle, which is a combination of style 3 and style 4, the same design as Don Reno's favorite Banjo

 

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Wreath, Hearts and Flowers


T-1200R-W, T-1200R-HF​

●T-1200R-W ¥132,000 (Banjo ¥120,000 Case ¥12,000) 1200R/W with the beautiful and delicate pattern of Old Wreath inlaid on the ebony fingerboard. The Old Wreath is an inlay pattern originally used for the Tenor Banjo Style 5, but adapted for the 5-string banjo. This pattern is also used on Ralph Stanley's banjo, and is familiar to bluegrass freaks. Even in its home country of America. The 1200R-W is highly rated by J.D. Crowe, Courtney Johnson of New Grass Revival, Tony Trishka of Country Cooking, and many other banjo players. (PHOTO left)

●T-1200R-HF ¥132,000 (Banjo ¥120,000 Case ¥12,000) The forgotten 5-string banjo is now a Grand Ole Opry. The 1200R H-F of Hearts and Flower Inlay, famous for the banjo of Earl Scruggs, the founder of bluegrass banjo, appeared on the main stage. dynamic. It will comfortably respond to all playing styles, from tight play to chromatic roll. (PHOTO right)

 

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RB-3 Style Snowflakes

T-850R​

●T-850R ¥95,000 (Banjo ¥85,000 Case ¥10,000) The first maple 3-plywood rim in Japan is used, and when matched with a brass die-cast tone ring, an unparalleled beautiful sound is created. It can be said that the high quality is what bluegrass freaks have been waiting for, including the glow purple presto type tailpiece that ensures ideal tension to the bridge, and the planetarium gear mechanism peg that guarantees perfect tuning. The inlay pattern is an elegant replica of the Prewar Mastertone RB-3 style Snowflakes. Everything from the front face to the details boasts high cost performance.

 

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Flowerpot and Snowflakes, Dots

T-650R, T-450R​

●T-650R ¥75,000 (Banjo ¥65,000 Case ¥10,000) The 650R has beautiful inlay work with a flower pot inlay on the double cutaway peghead and the familiar cat's eye and snowflakes pattern of the cat's eye guitar on the fingerboard. Along with the maple plywood rim pressed type tailpiece, RB100 type wiring is used to create the sound. (PHOTO left)

●T-450R ¥55,000 (Banjo ¥45,000 Case ¥10,000) A simple design with the TOKAI pearl logo on the Allegro type headstock and dot position marks on the fingerboard. The same material as the 1200R is used for the tension hoop and bracket, increasing durability. In addition to pursuing cost performance, we adopted Rotomatic pegs and a TOKAI original tailpiece with maple plywood rims, which can be said to be the conscience of the project team. Its powerful and clear sound has been welcomed by a wide range of players from beginners to senior players, making it a bestseller. (PHOTO right)

 

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Features​

●Tone ring: The tone ring material uses Bell Bronze, which is the same quality as Prewar Master Tone. Bell bronze has been respected for its excellent acoustic properties since ancient times, and is a material that is also used in brass instruments. The traditional method of production is to carve a Bell Bronze block poured into a mold, fully reproducing the dynamic and clear sound of the Prewar Master tone. Among many modern banjos, this tone ring can be said to be the best in terms of material and manufacturing method. Consideration has also been given to the nickel plate so that it can withstand years of use. (1200 R)

●Wood rim: All models use maple plywood rims. The joint surface with the tone ring is not painted to improve adhesion, improving the transmission of sound from the ring to the rim. The 1200R/850R uses thick 3-ply rims, and the 650R/450R uses the highest quality ply rims.

●Tailpiece: TOKAI presto type tailpiece is a perfect replica in terms of design and compensates for the shortcomings of the traditional presto type tailpiece from the tenor banjo era. The tension of the bridge relative to the head can also be adjusted freely. Furthermore, a mechanism to prevent falling from the hoop has been added for enthusiast-like performance (1200R/850R/650R), and the 450R uses an original design tailpiece.

●Pegs: Regular pegs with a gear ratio of 1:4 and 5th pegs with a gear ratio of 1:8 ensure accurate tuning. The 450R/650R uses a Schaller type peg button, and the 1200R/850R uses a peg button with the same design as a Keith tuner, meeting the needs of progressive players.

●Bracket & Nut: The bracket is made of 4 diameter steel, which is the same quality as the Prewar Master Tone, and boasts excellent durability. The ideal shape of the hang part is that the more you tighten it, the more it tucks inward. The nut is a double nut shape with a brass nickel plate, and the attention to detail is sufficient.

●Body: Unlike other acoustic instruments, all parts of the banjo can be completely disassembled. However, when set up, the banjo has a structure that requires perfect matching in order to produce the original sound of the banjo. The TOKAI 5-string banjo is a top-of-the-line model developed and designed with every part and detail set up in ideal conditions.

 

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Specifications, Others​

Banjo & Banjo Pickers

●The 5-string banjo has developed as an accompaniment instrument for traditional American music, so-called folk songs. However, with the rise of Dixieland jazz in the first half of this century, the tenor banjo took over and fell behind the guitar and ukulele. Earl Scruggs was the player who led the five-string banjo to its current popularity. ——1945. A young man from North Carolina joined Bill Monroe's band, the Bluegrass Boys. With his new right-hand fingering and progressively new melody lines, which no one had ever achieved before, he transformed the five-string banjo from a backup instrument to a melodic instrument, expanding its range of expression. This young man's name was, of course, Earl Scruggs, and the name of Bill Monroe's band, in which he participated, formed the genre that has since been called bluegrass, and has many followers and fans to this day. Earl Scruggs' wonderful performances can be heard on numerous records. Among them, his outstanding performance on ``Foggy Mountain Banjo'' is worth listening to.

●Folk movement spread throughout America in the 1950s and 1960s.

A storm broke out. Bluegrass was also hailed as the cutting edge of acoustic music, and many young banjo players were born. Bill Keith is one of them. In 1963, he joined the Bluegrass Boys and made a spectacular debut at the Newport Folk Festival. His playing was a further development of Earl Scruggs' style of incorporating melodic lines into dispersed chords, in which every note he picked produced a chromatic melody. To this day, his style, along with the Scruggs style, remains the main style of bluegrass banjo, known as the Keith style. In the 1976 album ``Something Bluegnass,'' you can enjoy many performances including Duke Ellington's famous song, Caravan.

●Alan Mande is a popular picker along with Bill Keith. He started playing the banjo when he was a student and became a professional musician in about four years. After doing sessions with Jimmy Martain's band and mandolin player Sam Bush, he is currently active in ``Country Gazette'' mainly in Texas. Check out his playing on his latest solo album, ``The Banjo Kid.'' He has a unique style that is a bit different from Keith's style.

●There is a rock band called ``Grateful Dead'' that is still active today mainly in San Francisco. Jerry Garcia, a central figure in the music and thought group known as the Dead Family, was immersed in bluegrass music during the formative years of his musical outlook. While he continues to play wonderfully at Rockfield, he also develops a truly unique banjo playing in backstage bluegrass sessions. His playing on the album ``Old & In the Way'' with David Grisman, one of the most exciting mandolin players of the moment, is dynamic with strong accents. Actually, he lost his middle finger on his right hand in an accident, so he plays with his thumb, index finger, and ring finger.

It seems that it is.

 

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Accessories

●Replica hard case
BJ-100 ¥10,000
BJ-120 ¥12,000

●Drum head (11inch)
REMO ¥3,600
5-STAR ¥4,500

●Strings (VEGA)
V-700 (light) ¥1,000
V-730 (medium) ¥1,000

●Slide capo (VEGA) ¥3,500

●Peg (1set)
Schaller type peg with button... ¥11,000 (5 string peg ¥2,250 included)
Key type peg with button... ・¥12,000 (5 string peg ¥2,500 included)

●Nut (cow bone) ¥500

●Bridge ¥600

●Tone ring
flat top brass die cast ¥8,000
flat top bell bronze sand cast ¥25,000

●Bracket & nut ¥200

●Tension hoop ¥3,500

●Armrest ¥3,200

●Resonator hang bolt ¥150

●Tailpiece

Presto type ¥3,500
TOKAI original ¥2,500

●Wrenches

L type wrench ¥300
T type wrench ¥400

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How to Care

●Structurally, a banjo is made up of a combination of metal parts and wood parts. Therefore, it is important for the player to set up the neck angle, head (skin) tension, octave adjustment, etc. to suit their own preferences. The TOKAI 5-string banjo comes with a handy manual that includes instructions on how to use it, how to play it, and song examples.

●An old-style hard shell case is provided at the time of shipment to completely protect the banjo. Every detail has been taken into consideration, such as heavy-duty exterior lining, soft interior, and long padding to protect the slender neck. Always carry special hardware

Please use the case.

●After playing, be sure to use a cloth to remove dirt from the wood and strings, and especially wipe the nickel-plated metal parts dry to prevent rust and clouding.

●Since the string tension of a banjo is low, there is no need to loosen the strings unless you have not played the banjo for several months. Also, when loosening or tightening the strings,

Please be careful when hatching as the bridge may fall over.

●If you have any questions about neck warping or other questions other than basic adjustments, please contact the store where you purchased the instrument or the Tokai Acoustic Instrument Project Team.

●Drum heads, bridges, and strings are consumable items. The secret to getting the best sound is to replace them at the appropriate time.

●When playing a banjo, it is important to fully understand the characteristics of the banjo you are using and to always set it up in the best condition. It is also necessary to deepen your love for the banjo and play it, and to listen to the performances of many players.

Quality before Quantity

Tokai Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Head Office 36 Terawakicho, Hamamatsu City 430TEL (0534) 41-3137

tokai musical instrument

Office Tokyo (03)295-2881 Osaka (06)380-1118 Chubu (0534)53-6950 Fukuoka (092)511-6263 Sapporo (011)822-1133