Innovative Paul Pyle 5-String Hourglass Dulcimer #777

Paul Pyle was born on April 15, 1913 in Tullahoma, Tennessee. He served as Seaman First Class during World War II. Later he was an award-winning professional photographer in Tullahoma operating a photography studio for more than 30 years. Pyle was interested in old time crafts and history and was the author of books on local history, a wood carver, and collector of old musical instruments, Indian lore, Civil War history, clocks, old photographs and documents.

Paul taught himself to play the Appalachian dulcimer as well as build them. Between the 1960s and 1980s, he and his wife, Louella, built more than 1,600 dulcimers, selling them at craft fairs. The local Tullahoma dulcimer club was named for him, the Paul Pyle Dulcimer Association. Pyle published several books on playing and making dulcimers:
• How to Tune and Play the Dulcimer (1973).
• To Build a Dulcimer: A Simplified, Economical Demonstration in the Construction, Tuning and Playing of the Dulcimer (1976).
• The Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer Book (1976)

Pyle passed away in 1991 at the age of 78.

This dulcimer is 36” long and 2 1/4” deep. The lower bout is 7 1/2”, the upper is 6”. VSL is 28 1/4“, FBW 1 1/2”. Spruce top, oak fretboard, sides and headstock. Maple back. Rosewood tailpiece with “777” printed on it. Ebony bridge and nut. 4 heart-shaped sound holes, and 2 curved cut-outs along the bottom of the fretboard. The unique feature about this Pyle dulcimer is the 5 autoharp tuning pegs. Most of his dulcimers had large hand-carved wooden friction tuners. New D’Addario string. Comes with brass tuning key.

Inside, there is an orange label that reads “PAUL W. PYLE / TULLAHOMA, TENN. / No. 777.”

Overall, it is in excellent condition. There are light pick marks and one tiny ding on the top, and a few small bumps along the left-hand edge of the top. (Please see photos.)

The additional fifth string, which is tuned an octave above the bass, gives the instrument a bright, rich tone. Plenty of volume — would be excellent for playing in a group. Nice action. Don’t let the autoharp tuners scare you off; they hold their tuning extremely well.