The tape template is a really nice idea, as is the bending iron arrangement. Lots of great tips for folks like me starting out, thanks very much for sharing.
Hi Josiah, what a great idea! I've seen Mexican instruments with big ribs made from mahogany plywood doorskin and they work just fine. Good luck with your project and let me know how it turns out! Thanks for watching.
Well I could say that's a secret, but the answer is simple. We use historical models, and that information comes from the drawing. The drawings come from the museums which hold these lutes: Italian, German, French and Belgian national museums publish very detailed plans. The front profile and back form the main lines, after that, it is all about fitting within those lines. Two templates can provide a check for seeing that the dimensions are correct. I made a video about making the moulds, which makes this clear: ua-cam.com/video/-5eJWnCFic8/v-deo.html
Hi Bobofreddy, have a look at Guild of American Luthiers plans here; luth.org/instrument-plans/ You should also get Bob Lundberg's excellent book on historical lute construction, available from GAL; luth.org/books/historical-lute-construction/ Good luck with your project!
Hi! I´d like to ask you a question. I´m a carpenter from germany and my Guitarteacher once gifted me an old german Lute guitar. It´s nearly 120 years old he said, but one of the ribs nearly broke apart in the middle. Is there any way to repair that damage? Also the mosaic covering the soundhole is not in the best condition. I´d like to restore this beautiful peace of musical history but probably need some help from an specialist. Can I reach you threw any e-mail? Looking forward hearing from you
Hi Kyra, that's a great question! The tape template is only a very rough guide; the rib has to be fitted with a combination of constant bending and cutting.
The tape template is a really nice idea, as is the bending iron arrangement. Lots of great tips for folks like me starting out, thanks very much for sharing.
Hi Arthur, glad you like the video and thanks for watching!
Thank you for the videos. Informative. I'm going to try to retrofit a cheap buitar into a "lute" prop. This gave me some helpful insight.
Hi Josiah, what a great idea! I've seen Mexican instruments with big ribs made from mahogany plywood doorskin and they work just fine. Good luck with your project and let me know how it turns out! Thanks for watching.
Thanks so much for sharing. The scraper would be the solution for guitar sides also.
Yes, I use a cabinet scraper on flat pieces.
I found this very helpful
confratulation Titmuss, keep sendind more videos, like make block and arm junction... thank you
Thanks for your comment! You might like this video; ua-cam.com/video/UGLq2WVCrUs/v-deo.html
but the mould itself, how did you make it?
the dimensions for each semi-circle etc
Well I could say that's a secret, but the answer is simple. We use historical models, and that information comes from the drawing. The drawings come from the museums which hold these lutes: Italian, German, French and Belgian national museums publish very detailed plans.
The front profile and back form the main lines, after that, it is all about fitting within those lines. Two templates can provide a check for seeing that the dimensions are correct. I made a video about making the moulds, which makes this clear: ua-cam.com/video/-5eJWnCFic8/v-deo.html
Hello so I would like to build a lute from scratch but I can’t seem to find any good templates is there anyway you can help.
Hi Bobofreddy, have a look at Guild of American Luthiers plans here; luth.org/instrument-plans/ You should also get Bob Lundberg's excellent book on historical lute construction, available from GAL; luth.org/books/historical-lute-construction/ Good luck with your project!
Hi!
I´d like to ask you a question.
I´m a carpenter from germany and my Guitarteacher once gifted me an old german Lute guitar. It´s nearly 120 years old he said, but one of the ribs nearly broke apart in the middle. Is there any way to repair that damage? Also the mosaic covering the soundhole is not in the best condition. I´d like to restore this beautiful peace of musical history but probably need some help from an specialist. Can I reach you threw any e-mail?
Looking forward hearing from you
Hi there, please email me at info@earlymusicstudio.com and include some photos of the damaged areas. I'll help if I can! Best, Clive
Why not bend the rib after chiseling and shaping the blank to your tape template?
Hi Kyra, that's a great question! The tape template is only a very rough guide; the rib has to be fitted with a combination of constant bending and cutting.
The ribs do not follow any template accurately enough, there are always small gaps and mismatched angle--it really is hand made.