Early bids on ShopGoodwill are no indication of what the price will eventually be. We often see Mcspadden and Folkcraft instruments starting at something like $35 and closing at $200 with shipping.
Some of us here follow ShopGoodwill every day and only seriously bid in the last few hours.
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.”
