13-course lutes from
£4000
There are two types of 13-course lute. The first is the "bass rider" type, where an 11 course lute has been converted by adding two extra bass courses which run to their own nut on a bass rider and are usually about 5-6 cm longer than the other strings. The second is the "swan neck" type, which usually has 8 courses on the first nut and 5 courses running to their own nut on an extended pegbox, giving much longer bass strings.
Bass rider type:
67.3/73.3 cm, 9 ribs, after Maler (Prague No. 654)
72/78 cm, 11 ribs, after Frei (Warwick) - click here for picture
75.4/80 cm, 11 ribs, after Tieffenbrucker/Edlinger (
Swan neck type:
69/96 cm, 9 ribs after M.Hoffmann, 169? (
73/100.4 cm, 11 ribs after J.C.Hoffmann, 1720 (Paris CNSM, E.529)