LUTES
the late middle ages and derives its name from the Arabic 'al Ud' (literally ~ the wood). The
earliest forms were carved from a single piece of wood (see Gittern) but by the renaissance the
curved back was constructed from separate ribs of wood and became an object of exceptionally
fine craftsmanship, held in the highest musical esteem.
Any lute made by me typically contains 6 - 8 different types of wood. This has a direct and beneficial influence on the balance and functionality of the instrument and is intended also to be visually pleasing.
The pictures below are examples and many of these show decorative extras, the cost of which would be in addition to the basic prices shown - further details at the bottom of the page.
I always have a choice of woods available for backs (see information page).
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QUICK REFERENCE TO LUTE PRICES
Cases are available on request and prices will vary according to instrument.
These lutes are built to the same high standard as all my instruments. The price is kept down by
using a back design of only 9 ribs, plain wood of my choice, a simple rose pattern, bridge, minimal internal soundboard tuning and an oil or synthetic finish.
PRICE : 6 course £ 1275 - 7 course £ 1375
| Venere, Bologna | 6 or 7 Course | String lengths between 58.5cm and 60cm. Quite a small, yet well proportioned instrument with a 9 rib back which works well pitched at g' or a' with suitably adjusted stringing. Student lutes are made to this model. |
| PRICE | 6 course £2095 | |
7 course £2260 
Click on pictures for more information |
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| Eberle | Treble Lute | A very attractive instrument with a 19 rib back and a string length of 44cm for a pitch of c'' or d". The original is a 7 course with 9 frets on the neck ~ it could also be built as a 6 course. |
| PRICE | 7 course £1620   |
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| Gerle, Vienna | 6,7 or 8 Course | String lengths between 60cm and 62cm. Although the original is a 6 course, the design and size of its body make this a good 'general purpose' instrument which allows conversion for more strings - although I favour a slightly increased string length for 8 courses. 11 rib back. |
| PRICE | 6 course £ 2180  |
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7 course £ 2335  |
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8 course £ 2645   |
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| Hieber, Brussels | 6,7 or 8 Course | String lengths between 59cm and 62cm. Based on information from two 7 course instruments in Brussels, this design has a back of 13 ribs with a slightly flattened back profile which some players prefer. Again a good medium sized instrument which converts well. |
| PRICE | 6 course £ 2260 | |
7 course £ 2425  |
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| 8 course £ 2755 | ||
| Frei, Warwick | 6, 7 or 8 Course | Can also be made to this design but they would suit longer string lengths. |
| 9,10 or 11 Course | String lengths between 63cm and 67.5cm. This design with a flattened back profile of 11 ribs, has a longer body shape characteristic of lutes of this type. | |
| 9 Course | A string length of around 63cm suits a 9 course instrument built to this model. It can be built to accommodate a double top string as is required according to some sources from the Jacobean period when 9 course instruments were particularly popular. | |
| PRICE | £ 3030 | |
| 10 Course | String lengths between 63cm and 65cm. the longer length accommodates 10 frets on the neck and gives a borderline scale length for a pitch of g', f' or f#. It is perhaps better suited to renaissance tuning pitched at f# ~ can also be used for other French tunings of the period. The top 2 courses are single strings. | |
| PRICE | £ 3140 | |
| Baroque 11 Course |
67.5cm string length for the D minor tuning pitched in f'. The 11th course is carried outside the fingerboard and the two top courses are single strings - the top one carried by a treble rider. | |
| PRICE | £ 3300 | |
| Tenor & Bass Lutes | 6 or 7 course can also be built on the Hans Frei mould. Pitched in e' or d' with string lengths of 68cm - 72cm. | |
| PRICE | 7 course £ 2645  |
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| Click on pictures for more information | ||
| Decoration
The above instruments are all offered with sound hole decoration (rose) as standard. |
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| Some examples of the more popular decorations for lute are given as follows:
Separator lines between ribs - £15 per line Neck and pegbox veneering - from £235 (Standard necks will usually be made in sycamore or similar. Veneering can be done in ebony, holly or steamed pear.) Fingerboard points - £85 Inlaid heart - £85 Half edging - £160 (Examples of some or all of these decorations can be seen on the Gerle 8 course and the Hieber 7 course pictures above) |
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| QUICK REFERENCE TO LUTE PRICES | ||