Polyphone

Polyphone 17th-c. chordophone of bass range, described by James Talbot (ca. 1700) as having a body 3½ ft. long, with scalloped profile, metal strings, 4 brass frets, nuts, and bridges. The number of strings seems to have averaged 40. Also called polythore (80 XV). Galpin Society Journal, The, Vol. 1. 1948–.