Anyone have a recommendation where I can find tenor banjo strings in the u.s., as well as what works well. I have on it’s way to me an old Vega 19 fret, presumably with no truss-rod, so I would assume that medium tension strings are the safest bet so I do not hurt the neck. I can easily get D’Addario through the store I work at, but I was wondering if there are other options? Anyone ever heard of someone using nylon strings, or gut?
I get all mine from juststrings.com. They carry just about every brand. As to what works well, that is hard to answer because it depends on so many things like the tuning you’re using, the type of head and rim, the tone ring, and playing style to mention only a few. Be prepared to experiment a LOT with a banjo, as you can change a banjo’s sound more than any other instrument but fiddling with strings, head, set up, etc.
All early banjos used gut strings, and many traditional players use nylon today. Gut is still available, but very expensive today. There is a synthetic gut (can’t recall the trade name) that is a popular substitute. For lots of info on that and everything to do with banjos, visit banjohangout.org. Great guys, very knowledgable community. The Chiff and Fipple of the banjo world.
boston strings are pretty good
shoud work fine with vintage Vega 
The synthetic gut strings are called Nylgut. They’re very popular for 5-string clawhammer style, but I can’t imagine they’d put out enough volume for session needs. It would still be a fun experiment to try one day.
As for metal strings, you’ll get more for your money buying sets of octave mandolin strings.
Thank you! I couldn’t think of that word to save my life! You’re right, it is more of a clawhammer thing, and wouldn’t be very loud for Irish sessions. But when you consider how many session players complain about loud banjos, it might be just the thing. 
However, the Vega is designed to use metal strings whether or not it has a truss rod, so I wouldn’t worry about the tension as long as you’re not using really heavy strings.
coming from a mountain dulcimer player…
be prepared to try some loose strings instead of just going with pre-packaged sets. Although it’s set up for dulcimer use, I think the string calculator on our site would work as well for your instrument - you need the measurment (in inches) from nut to bridge, and the note you are trying to tune to.
The calculator is set up for metal strings - and I think it tends to be a bit on the “light” side of the size, but I also play bass dulcimer and have been accused of using bridge cables!!!
Hi Missy!
Hey Tim!
If you want to keep the tension down use lighter gauge strings. Maybe something like .010, .014, .023w, .032w. I take it you’re using Irish GDAE tuning. Be careful with that baby. 
Right now I’ve got 12, 18, 25, 35 on it, it’s a LaBella brass wound set. It seems to work well and the neck doesn’t bow, at least not that I can see. I think I’ll stick with that for now as it sounds good on this banjo.
Whoa. 
I’m no expert but I’ve been playing 30 years and IMHO .012 .018 is waaaay too much tension on an old 19 fret tenor like that. I like the tone you get with higher tension but would never go higher than .011 .015 on my 19 fret. And that’s on a banjo half the age of your one!
Be real careful here. Over-tension can appear to work fine for a long time and then you get a temperature or humidity shift and your neck snaps. I know, it happened me once when I started out - on stage! 
I’d recommend at least drop the E and A down to .011 and .015 even if you must leave the wounds as they are. Make sure your action is set as low as possible (reduces bend force) and keep a close eye on it. If it rises of it’s own accord (even slightly) slacken off the strings and try a lighter set and get the action adjusted.
Again, be real careful. Consult an expert if you don’t know what you’re doing. You wouldn’t be the first person to kill a nice banjo through over-tension.