You can't get much out of a 6 string banjo, or even the 5 string banjo patch on a Variax acoustic. Tenors aren't bad and you'll find that tuning on lots of world instruments, but a 5 string is the way to go....at least that' my opinion after 35 years of playing them.
For a banjo to start I'd look for something used and made overseas. Some from the '70's and '80's were pretty good. In fact my go to stage banjo is an Aria Pro II 'Country Joe' archtop with a great neck, wood, and tone ring and it's preferred over my Deering or Ode.
No matter where it is made, just like a guitar, a lot of what makes a banjo fun to play is a goot setup.
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