Fantastic News, I just got a fine gift of one of these beautiful specimens.<\/p>\n
Its a small 4 string instrument, built like a banjo, tuned like a ukulele.\u00a0 Its body is cast aluminum and it feels solid and heavy in the hand.\u00a0 It comes with a fantastic sound that projects and really lets you sink down in the details.\u00a0 From what I can gather they were made sometime in the 50s or early 60s<\/span> 40s & 50s.\u00a0 I have is the “Black” model and its in wonderful shape for its age, if it is really as old as I have read.\u00a0 Only one minor problem at first glance and thats a cracked friction tuner.\u00a0 Apparently this is not the first Dixie to suffer these problems<\/a>, odd thing is this is the only white peg the others are black and work fine.\u00a0 If you have one of these and you are trying to learn more the Dixie Banjolele Blogspot<\/a> is the best resource for information on literally the real nuts and bolts that I have found so far.<\/a><\/p>\n Here are some close ups of the instrument, the last frame on the right shows off my attempt at a patch for the tuner with a material called ShapeLock.<\/a> It almost worked, however in my excitement I don’t think I waited quite long enough for it to cure and it slips around the flat of the post.<\/p>\n\n\t\t