Before you lay down yer dough, check out George Wunderlich's instruments:
http://www.wunderbanjo.com/
I have met George and his handmade banjos at reenactments, and for quality workmanship and authenticity i know of none finer. I have Bob Flesher's instruction book and tapes for the "stroke" Minstrel style, and he is a lot of fun to listen to if you like that old timey pickin', as i do. His "Wizzard Oil" tape is a real hoot! What kind of banjos he makes and how they compare to George's, I can't tell ye, but you might want to do some comparison shoppin', as these things ain't cheap! If you are a handy sport with wood, you could set yerself down & make one! A lot of the old Minstrel banjos were pretty crude, primitive affairs by today's standards, and very simple replicas I've seen sound surprisingly good! Some even dispensed with rings and clamps and just tacked the skin head over the hoop - like a tamborine - and let 'er be; good 'nuf, I suppose!