Well there are a lot of discussions in the "Care and Maintenance Group" on this site, including some threads on rescuing and repairing old damaged instruments.
Thank you! Any future such posts will go there.
Thank you for the video and the book titles, Wally. What a treat! When did you meet his wife?
- Madeleine
Yep, yet another Paul Pyle dulcimer on ShopGoodwill (search “dulcimer” - the site’s search feature is very basic).
Putting this here in the hope that one of you legacy-minded folk might make it sing again!
I wonder if in the vein of “animal adoption/rescue,” there is a “dulcimer adoption/rescue” forum here for legacy instruments that are likely to become wall hangers unless someone conserves/restores them? I did not see one but might have missed it.
- Madeleine
Wow, I step out for a spell and look what I’ve missed!
“Why do you play so high?” said the nut on the road. Great information about reverse capos.
Wish I were equipped to build my own scheitholt but learning about construction is still quite useful. Fascinating stuff.
Thank you for the helpful forum links.
As to the German language, there’s a charming expression ascribed to the Bavarians (roughly equivalent to German backwoods folk) that my mother often quotes: “Take your comb out of the butter - company’s coming.”
I beg your pardon for the late introduction.
- Madeleine
What important information to have brought forward. Well done and congratulations on your publication!
John, points well made and well taken. New, so not sure what DAS means. My only dulcimer so far came from an auction site with the business cards of its original owner (now deceased) still in the case - it was special to be able to look her up and know something about the life of the instrument.
Shopdad, what a wonderful thing to bring life back into an instrument that had such a rough start. Sounds like it’s a beauty today - complete with mermaid fishtail.
Thank you both for your experiences and insights.
The reason that Stradivari’s instruments continue to have a high value is that they have been in continuous play by master musicians since they were built. If they had only been stored by collectors, no one would have had the opportunity to hear their quality and over time, they would have been forgotten. They would all have ended on trash heaps.
Likewise, when instruments by the Meltons and other great builders of mountain dulcimers languish in thrift auctions where they are cracked or otherwise broken, many end up on the wall at a grill pub or in a dumpster behind a Goodwill. No one will have a chance to handle them and learn from how they were crafted, or the opportunity to restore them to life so that others can participate in the living history these instruments embody.
Bringing to attention those master-built instruments in peril of being lost is important to the continuity of our national musical heritage. Those who would try to stop this do a disservice to not only the dignity of these instruments but to the makers and players who have created and delivered the legacy to us all.
Thank you, Ken and Wally. I appreciate being able to learn from those who have deep roots.
About J.C. Shellnutt (according to an AI). Wally mentioned something interesting about Shellnutt over on the post about the Paul Pye dulcimer auction - maybe others have something to add.
J.C. (Jim) Shellnutt is an American luthier primarily known for his contributions to the production and design of Appalachian mountain dulcimers during the folk music boom of the 1970s and early 1980s.
Operating around the San Francisco Bay Area, he built instruments under his own name (J.C. Shellnutt & Company) and founded the prominent brand Magic Mountain Dulcimers.
History & Career Timeline
Design Philosophy & Instrument Characteristics
Magic Mountain was one of the premier West Coast dulcimer brands, competing directly with other major contemporary builders like FolkRoots. Shellnutt’s instruments were known for distinctive design choices:
Today, original 1970s J.C. Shellnutt and Magic Mountain dulcimers are considered rare, highly playable vintage folk instruments prized by collectors for their punchy, vibrant sound and sturdy American craftsmanship.
Hi Wally,
I realize that the opening bid and the closing bid are often very different. This instrument is not exactly a resale dream. I just wanted to make sure that it had a better chance of going to a good home.
Didn’t mean to bother those of you who know to check that site and exactly who Paul Pyle is. I’m brand new to all of this and I expect there are others here who are new, too.
Was trying to contribute positively but no problem. I won’t post on this thread anymore.
Restore this old beauty or just appreciate it for its craft level and historic value.
Partial image of the label is included in the listing photos.
ShopGoodwill auction listing:
“Appalachian 3 String Dulcimer by Paul Pyle No. 164 - Untested, As-Is”
You can probably get this at a very low price. The opening bid is $14.99. Search “dulcimer” rather than the auction title on the website.
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”Paul Pyle was a prominent figure in the Appalachian dulcimer revival based in Tullahoma, Tennessee.
Between the 1960s and 1980s, he and his wife Louella hand-built approximately 1,600 mountain dulcimers. These instruments are highly recognizable for their oversized, hand-carved wooden friction pegs. They almost always contain a paper label inside the soundhole that includes the instrument number and his signature.
Pyle was also an author and educator. His book, "To Build a Dulcimer," became a foundational text for hobbyist builders. While he was a significant folk historian and a founding member of the Tennessee Arts and Crafts Association, his instruments were built for traditional folk use rather than professional stage performance.
In terms of resale, Paul Pyle mountain dulcimers generally sell for $150 to $300. Their value is driven more by their historical connection to the Tennessee folk tradition than by technical precision. Collectors look for original labels and ensure the wood has not cracked, as his builds were known for being quite thin.”
Magic Mountain build by J.C. Shellnutt. Looks like Alaska Yellow Cedar with a Persimmon fretboard. Quality workmanship.
I’m listing this here in the hope that someone with a modest budget who will treasure and play this instrument will see this and bid. There is one bidder and the price is at $15.99. The auction ends on May 20th.
There are plenty of photos on the website. I think it’s been overlooked because the grain is so fine that in the lead auction photo, people probably think it’s plywood, plus it has a fairly bland auction title.
Just search “dulcimer” at ShopGoodwill - the listing title is “Vintage Natural Wood 35inch J6401/2.012 D’Addario Dulcimer Strings w/case” (you can’t search the title in the search bar but if you search dulcimer it will be easy to find).
If you’re not familiar, it’s Goodwill’s answer to EBay. Stores from all over the country list items there. Make sure to check the shipping.
There are some resellers using bidding software on the site but I managed to win a very nice dulcimer for little money and maybe you can, too.
Good luck!
