Ten Course Lutes
1) 10 course C45 Magno dieffopruchar, Multi-rib back
Modern pitch f '.
String length: 65.9 to 66.7 cm.
Based on the body of an archlute by Magno dieffopruchar, Venice c. 1615, in the Vienna Kunsthistorischesmuseum (C45). The back is of 31 striped yew ribs with black-dyed poplar spacers. As an alternative, the back may be assembled without spacers.
There is room on the neck for 9 tied frets, and the fingerboard is slightly curved (about 1.5 mm). The neck and peg-box are veneered with ebony. Fingerboard, points and edge binding are of ebony. Decorative knot carved around the rose. There is a chanterelle tuner on the peg-box (this last detail, which is based on iconographic evidence, reduces the length of the peg-box).
2) 10 course C45 Magno dieffopruchar, 17 ribbed back
Modern pitch f '.
String length: 65.9 to 66.7 cm.
This 10 course is identical to the above instrument (Vienna C45) except that the number of ribs on the back has been reduced to 17 (following the example of several Paduan lutes built in the late 1580's). The back may be made from either striped yew or dark yew with sycamore spacers.
Nine tied frets on the neck, slightly curved fingerboard (about 1.5 mm). The neck and peg-box are veneered with ebony. Fingerboard, points and edge binding of ebony. Decorative knot carved around the rose. The peg-box has a chanterelle tuner.
3) 10 course 'Small' Frei
Modern pitch f '.
String length: 66 cm.
Based on the smaller Hans Frei lute in the Vienna Kunsthistorischesmuseum (C34). This lute has the same belly shape and body type (the narrow Bologna lutes with a low number of ribs) favoured by the French in the early 17th century in their experiments with alternate tunings and a new style of music.
Nine tied frets on the neck, slightly curved fingerboard (about 1.5 mm). The neck and peg-box are veneered with ebony. Fingerboard, points and edge binding of ebony.
