Welcome Geoff,

Enjoy your time on the site...there is much to discover.

That is an unusual banjo and may be some sort of "hybrid" using hoop assembly from one banjo fitted to a neck from another or even a custom made neck. The peghead has a homemade look to it, but the carving looks very professional. This  mismatch of neck and hoop may explain the spacer at the heel and the use on a steel, adjustable perch pole.

 The pot does not seem to be from a very high grade instrument as it only has 16 tension hooks and the more professional instruments usually have considerably more that 16.  Also I can't see properly but are the strings fitted over the tailpiece as it looks as though they should go through and under, and then over the bridge?

Maybe others will have suggestions?

Hi Geoff,

You have a Kay banjo that has had the finish stripped off and the peg head carved.  Otherwise it is stock.

That wedge heel adjuster with the screw is pretty common for those makes. As you have likely discovered, don't mess with the screw.  Loosening the big bolt on the rim rod will allow pivoting the neck.

Those banjos were made in the late 1950s-60s as low end beginner banjos for catalog and music store stock.  Production was thereafter moved to Japan.  The early (and better) banjos had plywood rims.  The later rims were particleboard.  Both used the same bracket/oblong plate assembly-- the plates covered up haphazardly drilled holes and chips in the wood.

Tons of these were made and are easy to find if you need parts (usually playable at $40-100).

I was at a flea market in Hollis, NH on sunday and a guy had one and was telling folks that it was a "Vega."  I offered information and value.

A little later, I was walking past and overheard him telling a young couple that early in the day an expert had confirmed that it was a valuable "Vega."