Scroll down this page to find lists of: ONLINE RESOURCES, INTERNET DISCUSSION FORA, BOOKS AND DVDs, PLANS, COLLEGES AND CLASSES FOR LUTE BUILDING
A number of craftsmen around the world make lutes on a full-time professional basis; see lute makers. Others make lutes semi-professionally, and making a satisfactory instrument is feasible for the competent amateur wood worker. If you get into difficulties, lute makers are friendly, and will often be prepared to give a little advice.
A film of luthier Stephen Gottlieb (1945-2014) in his workshop making a lute, filmed for the BBC series In the Making in 1979: www.editor.net/lutemaker/inthemaking.html
Back issues of the Fellowship of Makers and Researchers of Historical Instruments Quarterly include a number of papers relevant to lute building: www.fomrhi.org/pages/communications
Lute builders discussion group:
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BOOKS AND DVDs ON LUTEMAKING
The current standard work on lute making in English is Robert Lundberg's Historical Lute Construction, published (posthumously) by the Guild of American Lutemakers: www.luth.org/books/lute_book.html
The luthier David van Edwards publishes a set of plans with CD ROM, with instructions and photographs of every stage of, of either a renaissance or a baroque lute. There is also a webpage with frequently asked questions and the possibility of online support:
Build your own renaissance lute www.vanedwards.co.uk/renlute.htm
Build your own baroque lute www.vanedwards.co.uk/course.htm
The Lute Society publishes a shorter booklet, with an accompanying plan, for the construction of a renaissance 7-course lute, available at www.lutesociety.org/pages/catalogue#n
A DVD on How to build a “Vihuela de Mano” with José Luis Romanillos & Jaume Bosser is available from El Centro de la Vihuela de Mano y la Guitarra Española “José Luis Romanillos” in Siguenza, Guadalajara, at romanillos.org/
PERIODICALS ON INSTRUMENT MAKING
Journals including occasional papers of relevance to lute builders include:
Fellowship of Makers and Researchers of Historical Instruments Quarterly: fomrhi.org
De Bouwbrief, Dutch language colour illustrated magazine for instrument builders: www.huismuziek.nl
PLANS
There are two kinds of lute plan: a technical drawing of a surviving historic instrument, and a plan made by a modern maker for the use of the lute maker today, which will draw on elements of different historical models.
Drawings of many historical instruments can be obtained from participating museums via CIMCIM, The International Directory of Musical Instrument Collections; these are listed on the CIMCIM website: homepages.ed.ac.uk/am/iwd.html
David van Edwards sells plans for the use of those wanting to build their own renaissance or baroque lute, in a package with CD ROM and online support, see BOOKS ON LUTEMAKING above.
There are few colleges where one can study lute construction specifically. For those wanting to train as lute makers, it may be more practical to study on a general musical instrument building course, and then attend a shorter course to learn the details of lute building – possibly on a residential summer school, or in evening classes over a long period.
COLLEGES OFFERING FULL-TIME INSTRUMENT BUILDING COURSES
Matthias Wiedmann's list of course in instrument making (not just lute making) around the world can be found at the website of FoMRHI, the Fellowship of Makers and Researchers of Historical Instruments, at www.fomrhi.org/pages/instrument-making-schools
At the present time those wishing to learn lute making in the UK would probably attend a guitar or violin making course, and then specialise privately or on their own initiative.
SHORT COURSES AND EVENING CLASSES IN LUTE BUILDING
Spain
El Centro de la Vihuela de Mano y la Guitarra Española “José Luis Romanillos” in Siguenza, Guadalajara has organised vihuela building courses romanillos.org/