The instruments listed in this section have been built on spec and are available now, for lutes to order please visit the catalogue.
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The design of this lute is heavily inspired by the depiction of two instruments in an altarpiece by Masaccio c.1426. The number of courses depicted in the painting is slightly ambiguous, but the number of strings suggests five courses and we have followed that in our own design. The tuning for medieval lutes is not known for certain but we opted to string so that it could be tuned g, d, A, F, C. The string length is 58cm.
The lutes in the painting are of a late medieval kind and share certain similarities with what we now call "renaissance" lutes, but they have various crucial differences that are not seen in later lutes but which are seen in various paintings during the 15th century. The similarities can be seen broadly in the colouration and relatively sparse decoration, the finely detailed round soundholes cut into the table, the general proportion and shape of the whole instrument, the shape and proportions of the peg-box and pegs. The differences when compared with renaissance lutes are however stark in that the lutes have not one rose but two, the bridge is nearer the end of the bowl, and a slight bottleneck seems to be suggested (a curve between neck and body at the joint). Our version here retains the features depicted in the painting but with details from other sources. We have for example chosen to use designs for the bridge, roses, and pegs from more easily interpreted depictions of lutes from this general period.
Our intention was to build an instrument suitable for plectrum playing, as was the norm in the 15th century, but also with the refinement suggested by the lutes' late medieval appearances. The string tension is higher than we would normally use on a renaissance lute and the soundboard is slightly thicker, but it still retains much of that delicacy we associate with later lutes. Consequently, it can handle both plectrum and finger playing if a transitional playing style is desired. Interestingly, though it may be counterintuitive, the low bridge position is a great success and gives an impressive sound.
The woods utilised are boxwood for the pegs and bridge, rippled sycamore for the bowl, an unusual rippled hornbeam for the fingerboard, and Alpine spruce for the soundboard. The strings are Nylgut.
£2880 including a Shuster case with modified padding to fit.
None available at this time.
For further details we can be contacted by either:
Tel:+44 (0)1332 232051 or Email: adriandodd@lutherie.uk
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