13 course lutes

There are two main types of 13-course lute.  The "bass rider" type is where an 11-course lute has been converted by adding the two extra courses on a bass extension to the pegbox.  The "swan-neck" type uses an extended pegbox to house the bottom five courses, which are therefore only used as open strings.  This second design is clearly intended to use all-gut bass strings (rather than metal-wound strings), even though the latest examples date from the middle of the 18th century when some metal-wound strings would have been available.  In the 20th century lute revival, these instruments have usually been strung with overspun nylon strings, with disastrous consequences for the sound - bass strings sounding very rich in upper harmonics and ringing on far too long.  Thankfully, with recent developments in gut strings, and (I hope) an increasing understanding that these lutes were probably strung at a rather low tension, we are beginning to realize the possibilities of this design.

1. Bass rider type, body after Hans Frei (Warwick), 72/78cm
The Warwick Frei makes an excellent body for a bass-rider lute, being somewhat larger than some of the 18th century conversions but still an elegant shape and manageable string length.  £5000.




2. Swan neck type, after Sebastian Schelle (Nuremberg, 1744, MI64), 73/99cm
The original lute has a rosewood back, as shown here, and is a very elegant shape.  £6000.