A reader writes:

Hi Paul..... I have a Vega Banjo, (was my fathers'Uncles.) I would like to find out its honest value in order to sell. The info. from the banjo is: Style #9, The Vega Co., Boston. #59571 Tu Ba Phone. If not yourself, is there someone here in the Chicago area I could bring it to?
I did send this info w/ pic's to a place in Michigan, (Elderly Instruments) and they would like me to bring it to Lansing to check it over, & give me an evaluation.
I'd rather not drive that far if I don't have to. I appreciate any help or advice you can give me. thanks,
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You have one of the more highly desirable collector's banjos. I assume it's a 4-string. How many frets?

I've seen similar instruments in playable or at least restorable condition go in the $700+ range,

Here's a fellow trying to sell his for much more than that: http://www.guitarandbanjo.com/inventory ... ne-tenor-0

Of course what people are asking versus what they get can be very different things. I have an article on how to investigate such things here:

https://creekdontrise.com/acoustic/banj ... _value.htm

If that doesn't help you, send me some photos, and I'll try to help you get more specific.

Have a great day,

- Paul

The writer reponded:

Hi Paul.......... Thanks for the e mail. I brought my Vega to a place in Frankfort IL. called, Down Home Guitars. Their repair guy is fixing up the banjo, (new head, etc.) and will take photo's & advertise it. They take a percent off of the sale price. Not sure yet what it will list for. He did tell me that if it were a 5 string it might bring a higher price.
If you have any ideas, or are interested in it, let me know. thanks.

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If he's going to advertise it on eBay or Reverb.com, you'll probably do about as well as you can expect short of doing all that yourself. Many of the "Gibson" 5-strings from that era actually started out as 4-strings and got aftermarket necks because the 5-string banjo became more popular. (One reason I'm not always impressed by someone telling me he has a 1920s-era Gibson Mastertone 5-string - the neck is almost always NOT built by Gibson - even if it has the Gibson inlay on the headstock).

This was less common with Vegas, since they had a different pot design. Your repair guy is right that a 5-string would bring a higher price today, but my preference would be to find someone who appreciates a fine 4-string for what it is. Even if it brings less $$$ than a "Frankensteined" 5-string might.