Gamut Instruments - Hans Burkholtzer-Model 13-Course Baroque Lute

The original instrument was made by Hans Burkholtzer in Füssen in 1596, and is now in the Vienna Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, item number SAM 44. It began life as a seven- or eight-course instrument, and there is a label inside which indicates that Thomas Edlinger of Prague converted it to eleven courses in 1705. At some date after 1719 the bass rider was added by an unknown craftsman to make a 13-course instrument.

The original instrument was probably converted into an 11-course lute sometime in the 17th century and then changed again into a thirteen-course lute in the 1720s. Therefore, we offer this instrument in both the 11-course and 13-course set-ups.

The back of the original instrument has 21 ribs with spacers. To provide a less expensive model, I have redesigned the body with eleven ribs. This version retains the unique flattened shape of the original form and therefore the characteristic deep and projective tone that makes this instrument such a popular choice for Baroque music.

Hans Burkholtzer-Model Baroque Lute Specifications:

• Back: 11 ribs

• Front: AAA Engelmann spruce

• Hand cut rose modeled on the original

• Decorative carving around rose

• Spruce neck core with ebony veneer

• Ebony fingerboard, with points

• Head: maple rails with ebony trim

• Solid ebony head back plate

• Bone nut

• Maple bass rider with ebony lining

• Maple chanterelle rider

• Maple bridge with ebony top plate

• Ebony outlined mother of pearl heart at bottom of front

• Ebony front edge half binding

• String length: 70.5cm (as on the original instrument)

Hans Burkholtzer-Model Baroque Lute:

Modeled after: Hans Burkholtzer Baroque Lute SAM 44, 1596 - Now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Nuremberg