Thirteen Course Lutes
1) 13 course J. C. Hoffmann with over-rider (single peg-box)
Low pitch f '.
String length: 71 cm / 76.9 cm.
Stringing: 2 x 1, 9 x 2 / 2 x 2
Based on the 1730 J. C. Hoffmann, Leipzig, in the Musee Instrumental, Brussels (no. 3188). I have altered the cross-sections of the back to make it somewhat shallower than the original instrument (the depth of the back and the cross-sections of my version are very similar to the 13 course 169... Martin Hoffmann, Nurnberg, Germanisches Nationalmuseum MI245).
Back of 11 curly maple ribs with black-dyed poplar spacers. Neck, peg-box and top of bridge are ebony-veneered. Fingerboard, points and edge binding of ebony.
2) 13 course Widhalm with theorboed upper extension
Low pitch f '.
String length: 73.7 cm / 101 cm.
Stringing: 2 x 1, 6 x 2 / 5 x 2
Based on the theorboed 13 course 1755 Leopold Widhalm, Nurnberg, in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, MIR903.
Back of 11 Honduran rosewood ribs with holly or English boxwood spacers. Neck and top of bridge are ebony-veneered. Fingerboard, points and edge binding of ebony. Extension of maple, dyed black. Decorative knot carved around the rose.
3) 13 course Widhalm with Jauck-style theorboed upper extension
Low pitch f '.
String length: 73 cm / 89.8 cm / 102 cm.
Stringing: 2 x 1, 6 x 2 / 3 x 2 / 2 x 2
The body and soundboard of this theorboed 13 course are based on the 1755 Widhalm, Nurnberg MIR903 (identical to the above 13 course). The triple extension, neck and bridge are based on two instruments by Andreas Jauck (Yale and Brussels).
Back of 11 Honduran rosewood ribs with holly or English boxwood spacers. Neck and top of bridge ebony-veneered. Fingerboard, points and edge binding of ebony. Extension of maple, dyed black. Decorative knot carved around the rose.
4) 13 course J.C. Hoffmann with Jauck-style theorboed upper extension
Low pitch f '.
String length: 70.5 cm / 87.4 cm / 99.5 cm.
Stringing: 2 x 1, 6 x 2 / 3 x 2 / 2 x 2.
Body based on the 1730 J.C. Hoffmann in the Musee Instrumental, Brussels (no. 3188). I have altered the cross-sections of the back to make it shallower than the original instrument, and the rib material is of rosewood. The triple extension and neck are based on instruments by Andreas Jauck.
Back of 11 Honduran rosewood ribs with holly or English boxwood spacers. Neck and top of bridge ebony-veneered. Fingerboard, points and edge binding of ebony. Extension of maple, dyed black.
5) 13 course C45 Magno dieffopruchar with theorboed upper extension
Low pitch f '.
String length: 72 cm / 97.4 cm or 70.6 cm / 96 cm.
Stringing: 2 x 1, 6 x 2 / 5 x 2.
This instrument is my own design. The body is based on the Vienna C45 Magno dieffopruchar (see 10 course lutes, instrument #2 for description) with 17 Honduran rosewood ribs with holly or English boxwood spacers. Note that this lute body is very similar in shape and size to the 13c Burkholzer (Vienna SAM 44.)
10 tied frets on the neck with a string length of 72 cm (note that the string length could be somewhat shorter -- 70.6 cm -- and still have 10 tied frets.)
Neck and top of bridge are ebony-veneered. Fingerboard, points and edge binding of ebony. Upper extension of maple, dyed black. Triple rose with decorative knot.
My concept for this instrument is that it is a conversion by Sebastian Schelle of an excellent Magno dieffopruchar late Renaissance lute (or archlute) into a theorboed 13 course, with Schelle keeping as many of the elements of the original instrument intact as possible.
6) 13 course C45 Magno dieffopruchar with Jauck-style theorboed upper extension
Low pitch f '.
String length: 70.6 / 87.5 cm / 99.6 cm.
Stringing: 2 x 1, 6 x 2 / 3 x 2 / 2 x 2.
The body, general layout and materials of this theorboed 13 course are the same as the above 13 course (instrument #5) with 17 Honduran rosewood ribs with holly or English boxwood spacers. The triple extension and the neck design are based on instruments by Andreas Jauck.
7) 13 course C45 Magno dieffopruchar with Schelle-style over-rider (single peg-box)
Low pitch f '.
String length: 70.6 cm / 76 cm.
Stringing: 2 x 1, 9 x 2 / 2 x 2.
The body, general layout and materials of this 13 course are the same as the above insruments (13 course lutes #5 and 6).
The bridge, peg-box and neck design are based on the 1727 Sebastian Schelle in the Musee du Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique, Paris.