Looks like a Vega Vox …… didn’t count frets, but looks like a plectrum. Worth crashing for the right price and if you want a four string.

It appears to be a 1960s Vega Vox IV. It has 22 frets so it's a plectrum.

If you play a plectrum, yes this is a highly regarded deluxe professional instrument.

Not really desired for conversion to 5 string for the bluegrassers.

The place you can probably find the highest concentration of Vega Vox IV plectrum lovers is Philadelphia, where they are prevalent in the annual Mummers Parade.

The plectrum market is small, so it's unlike this banjo is a candidate to flip.

Thanks, great info. They have another plectrum as well..."The Gibson" on the headstock...looks like ~1925. Have not seen these in person yet...will check them out on Thursday.

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Originally posted by BruceS2

Thanks, great info. They have another plectrum as well..."The Gibson" on the headstock...looks like ~1925. Have not seen these in person yet...will check them out on Thursday.

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If it says "The Gibson" probably earlier than 1925 and thus not as desirable or valuable.  Get photos of it and someone hre can identify it.

may not be good for 5 string conversion ,, but still highly thought of as a collector ,,esp if in superb condition. just depends on how old it is...
if it was one of the gen 1 batch (1950 -1962) it may be worth the trouble. but even the later ones from the 60s and 70s are bringing good money,, ,problem is it is a very small market for vega plectrums.

martin guitars bought the rights to build them in 1970 -1980 ,,  they were built in nazarath, pa.

Here is what I ended up buying. The Vega was in great condition but she knew it might be worth something and wanted more than I was willing to go. But the Gibson was nice. Very original and in reasonable condition. I want to mess around with a tenor for some jazz stuff so it's perfect. From what I can tell, it's a 1926 TB-2. I think the shop owner wrote his name on the inside of the head which is cool...means the head is original too. FON matches on the rim and resonator. I don't know what to call this non-mastertone style. Looks like it has a small tone ring..it's light but not like the hoop banjos. I've never seen a 5 string conversion of one of these...I do have a couple of mastertone conversions and love them. Here are some pictures.