Gamut Instruments - Martin Hoffmann-Model Baroque Lute

The original instrument was made by Martin Hoffmann, with the neck added by his son Joh. Christian Hoffmann, in Leipzig, Germany. The date of the construction is a little uncertain, but the instrument seems to have been made around 1670, and is now in the Germanisches National Museum in Nuremberg, item number MI 245. The stringing is arranged with eight courses on the fingerboard at 69.5cm and five courses on an extension at 97cm. Although the instrument pictured here has a plain-backed extension, the back of the extension on the original is richly carved with floral figures.

The cross-section of this instrument is slightly deeper than half round, which gives the tone of instrument a silvery, introspective quality having shimmering treble notes and deep basses. The original instrument has 9-figured maple ribs with ebony spacers.

Martin Hoffmann-Model Baroque Lute Specifications:

• String length 69.5cm (27 1/4")

• Overall length 122cm (48")

• Body length 48.5cm (19")

• Neck length 29.5cm (11 3/4" )

• Body width 31cm (12 1/4")

• Body depth 17.5cm (6 3/4")

• Back and sides: 9 ribs with ebony spacers

• Engelmann spruce "AAA" quality

• Neck: spruce with ebony veneer

• Ebony fingerboard, with points

• Bone nut

• Extension - carved maple stained black

• Maple bridge with ebony top plate

• Ebony front edge half binding

Martin Hoffmann-Model Baroque Lute:

Modeled after: Martin Hoffmann Lute MI-245, c. 1670 - Now in the Germanisches National Museum, Nuremberg