Posted on July 1, 2024May 28, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Vihuela Plans Questions: Vihuela Plans by Robert Lundberg Originally published in American Lutherie #60, 1999 Roy Barger of Dayton, TN asks: I’d like to build a vihuela. Trouble is, plans are as rare as hen’s teeth. Do you know where I could obtain a set? Or, someone who owns a representative example of one that would sympathize with my plight enough to assist in the measuring thereof? Bob Lundberg of Portland, Oregon answers: I do not know of any plan you can order. The one extant vihuela in the Jacquemart André Museum in Paris is not typical of most vihuelas built in the 16th century. Raphael Weisman described it in detail for the Galpin Society Journal, Vol. 35 (March 1982) in an article called “The Paris Vihuela Reconstructed.” No plan was made available. ◆ Editior’s note: You’ll find a comprehensive article on the vihuela by John Rollins in AL#10 or The Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume One, 1985–1987.
Posted on March 7, 2024March 7, 2024 by Dale Phillips The Business of Lutherie, 1980 The Business of Lutherie, 1980 by Richard Bruné, George Gruhn, Steve Klein, Max Krimmel, and Robert Lundberg Originally published in Guild of American Luthiers Quarterly, Volume 9, #4, 1981 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume One, 2000 See also, The Business of Lutherie, 1984 by Ted Davis, Steve Grimes, Bob Meltz, and Matt Umanov Where Are They Now? by Tim Olsen We luthiers who are part of the late-’60s, early-’70s lutherie boom are now witnessing a remarkable event. A generation of instrument makers is coming of age. We have heard much of late about the steadily improving quality and sophistication of our instruments, and we have seen a number of major talents emerge from the pack to achieve wide recognition and respect. As this maturation of skill develops, business ability becomes the deciding factor between failure and success. While the discussion of business skills and theories is, in fact, the subject of this article, thoughtful readers will note that a mature attitude toward our craft is beginning to prevail. The naïve thralldom to the instrument is being replaced by a realistic understanding of our limits and abilities, and an unwillingness to suffer simply because of our love of lutherie. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of our premium web content offered to Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. Members also receive 4 annual issues of American Lutherie and get discounts on products. For details, visit the membership page. If you are already a member, login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on January 10, 2010May 23, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Lute Strings Questions: Lute Strings by Robert Lundberg Originally published in American Lutherie #39, 1994 Robert Lundberg from Portland, Oregon responds to the oft-asked question, “Where do I get lute strings?” AQUILA String-Makers S.a.s., Via Costantini 16, 36100 Vicenza, Italy. Gut strings and plain nylon. Boston Catlines (Olav Chris Henriksen), 34 Newbury Street, Sommerville, MA 02144 (716-776-8688). Savarez nylon strings, catlines, and plain gut strings. Donna Curry’s Music, 1780 Fort Union Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Pyramid and gut strings. E. & O. Mari, Inc., 256 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550. La Bella nylon and gut strings. Gamut Musical Strings (Daniel Larson), 26 N. 28th Ave. E., Duluth, MN 55812 (800-723-8011). Makes many types of gut strings. Pyramid Strings, Saiten und Stimmpfeifenfabrik Junger GmbH, P.O. Box 6, 91088 Bubenreuth/Erlangen, Germany. Overspun and plain nylon strings, gut strings, and frets. Savarez, B.P. 4356, 69242 Lyon Cedex 4, France. Sofracob S.A., Zone Industrielle, 38121 Reventin-Vaugris, France. Plain gut strings and frets.
Posted on January 8, 2010May 22, 2025 by Dale Phillips Ivory Lute: Questions Remain Ivory Lute: Questions Remain by Robert Lundberg Originally published in American Lutherie #32, 1992 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Three, 2004 See also, 6-Course Ivory Lute labeled Magno dieffopruchar a venetia, ca. 1550 in the collection of J. & A. Beare Ltd. by Ken Sribnick and Gayle Miller Ivory Lute: Picture This by Ken Sribnick and Gayle Miller The paucity of historical 6-course lutes is well known, so lute makers were understandably excited when the beautiful ivory lute labeled Magno dieffoprucher a venetia surfaced at Christie’s auction house for their May sale in 1981. It sold for ₤4500, which was well below the estimate, and ended up in the collection at Charles Beare’s violin shop (J. & A. Beare Ltd., 7 Broadwick Street, London W1) where I was unsuccessful in getting access to examine it on two subsequent occasions. In July of 1982, while the lute was open in the Beare workrooms, the English lute maker Stephen Barber (11a Peacock Yard, London S.E. 17) published a nicely detailed and informative set of measured drawings consisting of two sheets with interior and exterior views plus notes. These were a welcome addition to a very short list of really complete museum-quality lute drawings. We are shown a nine-rib, somewhat shallow ivory body with dark spacers. The body, counter cap, neck block, and neck dimensions and materials conform to expectations. However, there are also depicted many unusual or unexpected features. The construction of the belly, particularly in the thicknessing, is not at all what one would expect. Also some, if not all, of the bars must be replacements. The bridge, pegbox, and nut are certainly not original. I should add that over the years there has been considerable discussion as to whether or not this lute (together with several others sharing the same provenance) is really from the mid-16th century, or whether it is a composite, or a complete fake. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of our premium web content offered to Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. Members also receive 4 annual issues of American Lutherie and get discounts on products. For details, visit the membership page. If you are already a member, login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on January 6, 2010May 22, 2025 by Dale Phillips Review: The Workbench Book by Scott Landis Review: The Workbench Book by Scott Landis Reviewed by Robert Lundberg Originally published in American Lutherie #32, 1992 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Three, 2004 The Workbench Book Scott Landis Taunton Press, 1987. 248 pp. ISBN 0-918804-76-0 Even though this book was published several years ago and so is likely known to many of you, I thought it might be worthwhile to look at it specifically from a luthier’s point of view. It is clear from the first glance that The Workbench Book is a truly remarkable book which will be of great interest to anyone making things from wood or working with wooden objects. From the experienced woodworking professional to the neophyte, everyone will find this an interesting and intriguing resource which in my library has the privilege of sharing, with only a few other books, a spot on my reference shelf. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of our premium web content offered to Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. Members also receive 4 annual issues of American Lutherie and get discounts on products. For details, visit the membership page. If you are already a member, login for access or contact us to setup your account.
