Lutes available for hire
The Lute Society maintains a fleet of hire instruments (currently over 100 lutes and other instruments), for the use of:
- prospective beginners wanting to try the lute before deciding to buy their own;
- any player who wants to try one of the rarer types of lute;
- attendees at playing days who need a stock of bass lutes, treble lutes, etc.
Most of the instruments are held at the premises of Bridgewood and Neitzert of Stoke Newington, London and prospective hirers are warmly encouraged to go and see, try, collect and return lutes in person - though instruments can be couriered to those who cannot make the trip to London.
Beginners who are not sure what they want are welcome to bring their teacher, or invite a representative of the Lute Society to help them choose a lute.
If you cannot find the lute you are looking for below, you may wish to try hiring a lute from members of the society - see small ads - for hire.
We have received donations of more lutes than we currently have time to restore. If you see an instrument you would like to hire, that is 'under restoration' or 'under repair' let us know and we will prioritise getting it in playing condition.
The hire charge, unless otherwise stated on the inventory below, is £35 per month (with discounts for full-time students), and the hirer is asked to pay carriage - so for many UK residents it will be cheaper as well as safer to collect and return the lute in person. Please note that LARGER INSTRUMENTS are disproportionately expensive to courier and it will often be cheaper to travel in person even a long distance to London to collect or drop off a long-necked lute.
Please direct initial enquiries to the Secretary of the Lute Society, who maintains the waiting list.
Please note, you must be a member of the lute society to hire most of these lutes. This does not apply to the "theatrical" lutes; theatrical companies may be restricted to the sturdier instruments, however, unless a designated professional musician in the company takes responsibility for a hire instrument. Theatrical hire companies are requested to include an acknowledgement in printed programmes if possible: 'Lute supplied by The Lute Society, www.Lutesociety.org'
We regret that because of the very high risk of loss or damage when lutes are sent by air freight, OVERSEAS MEMBERS can hire lutes ONLY if they can guarantee to both collect and return hire instruments travelling overland (using the Channel tunnel) or by sea ferry.
Some of these instruments are on long term loan to the society.
INSURANCE: The Lute Society carries its own risk for damage and loss, but hirers are requested to contact their household insurer to ask if the instrument can be listed on their policy for the duration of hire (to a value we advise); if this is not possible the hire may still proceed but the hirer should be especially careful. When the instrument is returned we will advise of the value it should be insured to with our preferred courier, if it is really not possible to bring the lute back in person. We would NOT ask you to make a claim for minor damage, including ‘normal’ lute accidents (such as the bridge coming off, or a minor crack in the soundboard, which are quite common, or more rarely, the pegbox coming away) – the insurance would be against total loss or total destruction of the instrument.
Grading and photographs: we are currently in the process of grading and photographing all the instruments.
- Grade A: fit to be played in a public concert
- Grade B: generally non-new instruments but of fair quality
- Grade C: generally heavily-built, guitar-influenced, less historically-informed lutes, built before the 1980s, and available at reduced price.
PLEASE NOTE that if one of the 'Grade A' instruments on the list is not available, you may hire one of the more basic 'Grade B' or Grade 'C instruments' without losing your place on the waiting list for a best quality instrument.
Rules of the hire scheme
Hirers agree that they are responsible for the care and condition of the hired instrument, and in particular undertake that:
a] the instrument should not be left against a radiator or in prolonged direct sunlight,
b] the instrument must not under any circumstances be left in an unattended motor vehicle, since this voids theft insurance,
c] the instrument may not be transported by air, because of the danger that check-in staff might refuse it to be carried as hand luggage and require it to be put in the hold,
d] the hirer will not change the tuning of the instrument, and especially not raise the pitch of the strings, without consulting Bridgewood and Neitzert about selective restringing,
e] the hirer will promptly inform Bridgewood and Neitzert of any accidental damage, so that Bridgewood and Neitzert can either carry out repairs or designate another professional luthier to carry out repairs, in consultation with the Lute Society,
f] the hirer will consult Bridgewood and Neitzert about replacement of strings which break during hire, or any other restringing; within reason the Lute Society will supply and bear the cost of replacement strings.
g] If collection or return of the instrument is by courier, this must be with a courier agreed with Bridgewood and Neitzert, and insured to an agreed value.
A few members also have lutes for private hire, see Small ads - for hire
Instrument list
| no. 1: 6 course lute in G, 59.8 cm by Martin Haycock (1983) grade: A | available |  |
| no. 2: 6 course lute in G, 60.5 cm, by David van Edwards summer school (1999) grade: A | available |  |
| no. 3: 7 course lute in G, 59 cm, by David van Edwards summer school (1998), grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 4: 7 course lute in F# (G at 415), 63.5 cm, by Stephen Gottlieb (1998), grade: A | available |  |
| no. 5: 8 course lute in G, 63cm, by Paul Hunt (1979), grade: B | on hire |  |
| no. 6: 7 course lute in G, 62cm, by John Gorrett (1976), grade: B | on hire |  |
| no. 7: 7 course lute in G, 60cm, by Chris Allen, grade: B | on hire |  |
| no. 8: 8 course lute in G, 58.2cm, by Stephen Barber and Sandi Harris (1998) grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 9: 8 course lute in G, 62.6 cm, by Anthony Campbell (1977) grade: B | available |  |
| no. 10: 10 course lute in G, 63cm, by J Karoubi (1978), grade: B | under repair |  |
| no. 11: 11 course D minor baroque lute (at baroque pitch), 68cm, by David van Edwards summer school (2003), grade: A | available |  |
| no. 12: 13 course D minor baroque lute, 71.5/100 cm by David van Edwards summer school (2000), grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 13: 7 course lute in F, by David van Edwards summer school (2005) | on hire |  |
| no. 14: 6 course bass lute in D, 76cm, by David van Edwards summer school (2002), grade: A | available |  |
| no. 15: 10 course lute in E, 69cm, by Philip Macleod Coupe (1973), grade: B | available |  |
| no. 16: theorbo in A [at 440 with spare strings for 415], 82/166.5 cm, by David van Edwards summer school (2001), grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 17: 14 course 'liuto attiorbato' or archlute [in G], 64.5 / 91.5 cm by David van Edwards summer school (2006) grade: A | available |  |
| no. 18: 5 course mediaeval lute [in G], 58.5 cm by David van Edwards summer school (2008), grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 19: 4 course mediaeval gittern in C, 44.5cm, by David van Edwards summer school (2008) Grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 20: 6 course mandora in d', 72 cm, by David van Edwards summer school (2007), grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 21: 4 course renaissance guitar in A, 55cm, by Neil Morrison (1980), grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 22: 7 course lute in G, 59 cm, by John Gorrett, made for Early Music Shop (undated, marked 'no. 102'), suitable for theatrical hire, grade: B | available |  |
| no. 23: 6 course lute in G, 62 cm, suitable for theatrical hire, grade: C, £20 per month only | available |  |
| no. 24: 8 course guitar lute in G, by Guitarra Estruch of Spain (1968), 61 cm, grade C: £20 per month only, suitable for theatrical hire | available |  |
| no. 25: 4 course carved-from-solid cittern in E, 42.5 cm, by John Pringle (1976) grade: B | available |  |
| no. 26: 7 course treble lute currently in C, 43.5 cm, by Mark Butler (1980), grade: A | available |  |
| no. 27: 7 course treble lute in A, 51 cm, by Mark Butler (1977), grade: B | available |  |
| no. 28: 4 course guitar in A, 55 cm, by Robert Rivie (1982), grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 29: 7 course lute in F, 66 cm, by Mark Butler (1981)lost believed stolen, please contact us if you come across a lute of this description. | lost believed stolen | |
| no. 30: 10 course lute in E, 72 cm, by Mark Butler (1978) grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 31: 10 course bass lute in C, 89 cm, by Mark Butler (1981), grade: A | available |  |
| no. 32: 7 course bandora in A, 71/76cm by Lyn Elder (1977), grade: A | available |  |
| no. 33: 6 course cittern in E, 47 cm, by David Madigan (1975), grade: A | available |  |
| no. 34: 6 course vihuela in A, 54 cm, by Robert Rivie (1984), grade: A | available |  |
| no. 35: wooden tenor flute in D, by Phil Levin, grade: A | available |  |
| no. 36: wooden descant flute in D, by Phil Levin, grade: A | available |  |
| no. 37: 7 course plastic-backed Progress lute, grade: C | unavailable | |
| no. 38: 6 course single strung, 'Wandervogel' guitar-lute,60.5cm, (1920s?) in E, grade: C, suitable for theatrical hire as a working stage prop, this is in normal guitar tuning and stringing, and would suit an actor who wanted to play something familiar but which is lute-shaped, £20 per month only | available |  |
| no. 39: 6 course lute in G, 60cm, by Bruce Brook (1997), grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 40: 7 course Harwood and Isaacs kit lute, 61 cm, built by Alan Hoyle, refurbished by Luke Emmet (2016), grade: B | available |  |
| no. 41: 8 course lute in F, 63cm, by Eric Mcleod (1981), refurbished by Luke Emmet (2011) | available |  |
| no. 42: 6 course student lute by Barber and Harris, 60cm (2002), grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 43: 8 course lute, 62cm, by Stephen Gottlieb (1972) | on hire |  |
| no. 44: 12 course double-headed lute by David van Edwards summer school (2010), 673, 720, 780, 850, 938 mm, currently in French flat tuning but can be retuned to baroque D minor at A=392 (i.e. C minor at modern pitch), grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 45: Triple-headed 13 course baroque lute in D minor, tuned at baroque pitch, 720, 885, and 1010 mm, by David van Edwards summer school after Jauck (2011), grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 46: 6 course lute in G [A=440], 56cm, by Eric Franklin (2011) with short scale length - intended for children, grade: B | available |  |
| no. 47: 7 course lute in G, 58cm, by Mark Butler (1978), grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 48: 7 course lute in G, 60cm, by James Marriage (2011), grade: A | on hire |  |
| no. 49: 7 course lute in G, 58 cm, plastic-backed 'Progress lute' (1970s or 1980s), grade C: £20 per month only, suitable for theatrical hire (sounds fine, looks fine from a distance) | available |  |
| no. 50: 7 course lute in G, 61cm, by Charles Ford (1980) grade B | on hire |  |
| no. 51: 5 course baroque guitar in E, 64cm, by Los Utrera, Tacho y Wendy (2001), grade B | on hire |  |
| no. 52: 8 course lute in F, 66.5cm, by Harwood and Isaacs (1967, no. 67 remodelled by Luke Emmet 2022), grade A | available |  |
| no. 53: 13c baroque lute, single treble rider, 77cm (two bass riders 70.5cm) by Alan Clark (2003), grade B | on hire |  |
| no. 54: 6 course lute, 50 cm in G, (could be restrung in C) by Mid East Mfg co, converted to 6c lute by David van Edwards (2011), intended for use by children, grade B | under maintenance |  |
| no. 55: 8 course lute, 60 cm in G, by Ian Harwood 'no. 13' (1959), theatrical hire lute, grade C | available |  |
| no. 56: 7 course Harwood and Isaacs kit lute, grade B | awaiting case |  |
| no. 57: 7 course lute, 50 cm in G intended for children, by Mid East Mfg Co (2011), grade B | under reconstruction |  |
| no. 58: 8 course 60cm G lute by Mid East Mfg Co (2011), grade B | available |  |
| no. 59: 7 course, 59cm in G by James Cole (1994) grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 60: 7 course, 50 cm, in G intended for children, by Mid East Mfg Co (2011), grade B | available |  |
| no. 61: 6 course, 50 cm, in G intended for children, by Mid East Mfg Co (2011), grade B | available |  |
| no. 62: 7 course, 59 cm, in G, by Martin Haycock (1999, no. 95), grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 63: 6 course bass lute in D, 71 cm, by John Duncalf (1976), grade B | available |  |
| no. 64: 7 course treble lute, currently in G, 55cm, intended for children, by James Malt (2013), grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 65: 7 course lute, 60 cm, Harwood and Isaacs kit lute built by Dr Lionel Kremer, rebuilt as a left-handed lute by Luke Emmet (2015): grade B | available |  |
| no. 66: 14 course chitarrone, single strung in gut at baroque pitch, 6 + 8, 84 cm /153.5 cm, by Martin Bowers (1980), grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 67: 14 course liuto attiorbato, double strung, 7 + 7, 613 mm/ 952mm, currently in G at baroque pitch, by John Duncalf (1978), grade B | available |  |
| no. 68: 7 course lute in G, 55 cm (short-scale length for younger players / smaller hands) Tim Southon (2015) Grade A | under repair |  |
| no. 69: 14 course theorbo in G, single strung, 7 + 7, 930 mm / 1695 mm, by Claire Bouvier (1980), grade A | under repair |  |
| no. 70: 11 course baroque lute, 740 mm, strung at baroque pitch, by Robin Linklater (1979), grade B | on hire |  |
| no. 71: 4 course mandore, 335 mm by Donald Gill (1982), grade A | under maintenance |  |
| no. 72: 4 string mandore (carved for solid), 280 mm, by Donald Gill (1981), grade C | under restoration |  |
| no. 73: 4 course lute mandore, 296 mm, by Donald Gill (? No label), grade B | under restoration |  |
| no. 74: 5 course mandore, 439 mm, by Donald Gill (1984), grade C | under restoration |  |
| no. 75: 5 string mandore, 384 mm (octave doubled 5th course) by Donald Gill (1992), grade B | under restoration |  |
| no. 76: 5 string mandore, 379 mm (octave doubled 5th course) by Donald Gill (1979), grade B | under restoration |  |
| no. 77: 5 course bell cittern, 360 mm, by Donald Gill (1980) grade B | under restoration |  |
| no. 78: 4 course guitar, 529 mm, by Donald Gill (1974) grade B | under restoration |  |
| no. 79: 6 course vihuela, 634 mm, by Donald Gill (1975) grade B | under restoration |  |
| no. 80: 6 course viola da mano, 596 mm, by Donald Gill (1978) grade B | under restoration |  |
| no. 81: 6 course bandora, 721-8 mm (sloping bridge), by Donald Gill (1961), grade C | under restoration |  |
| no. 82: 10 course double headed ‘Molanaer’ lute, 691/865 mm, by ‘Donald Gill 1977 the back from an old lute’ ‘rebuilt 10 course 1986’, grade B | under restoration |  |
| no. 83: 11 course baroque lute, 690 mm 'M Durvie / D Gill 1986', grade B | on hire |  |
| no. 84: 5 course guitar, 634 mm, by John Gorrett ‘Woodlark’ brand no. 2126, grade B | on hire |  |
| no. 85: 5 course guitar, 673 mm, Donald Gill (1977), grade C | under restoration |  |
| no. 86: 5 course mandora, 750 mm, by Donald Gill (1989) grade C | under restoration |  |
| no. 87: 6 course mandora, 714 mm, by ‘Alec Hodson, Lavenham Suffolk, April 1948’ ‘converted to an 18th century type six course “mandor laute” 1979 New neck and belly Donald Gill’ ‘3 new bars 1993’, grade B | under restoration |  |
| no. 88: 6 course callichon, 951 mm, converted by Donald Gill from a lute by John Downing, no. 7, (1977), grade B | under restoration |  |
| no. 89: 7 course lute in G, 582mm, by David Van Edwards' Summer School (2009) grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 90: 8 course lute in G, 598 mm, by Martin Shepherd (1998) donated by Martin Grayson’s widow, grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 91: 14 course theorbo in A at 440, 85/170 cm, by David van Edwards summer school (2017), grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 92: 6 course vihuela in G, 59cm by Bruce Brook (1998), Tessa Murray bequest, grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 93: 7 course lute in G by Barber & Harris (1988), 58.2 cm, Tessa Murray bequest, grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 94: 11 course baroque lute currently at baroque pitch A=415Hz, 67cm, by Barber and Harris (1997), Tessa Murray bequest, grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 95: 8 course lute in F, 64cm, by Sandi Harris (1992), Tessa Murray bequest, grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 96: 8 course lute in G, 59cm, by le Luth Doré (2017) gift of Alan Kay, grade A | available |  |
| no. 97: collapsible theorbo 6+8, 98.5 / 169.5 cm, by Stephen Murphy (1997), after Buchenberg, anonymous donation (2019) grade A | available |  |
| no. 98: theorbo de piece in C, single string 7+7, 72cm/120cm, top two strings re-entrant, by Didier Jarny (no. 206, 2001), on long loan from Yasuhiro Nakashima, grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 99: 4 course cittern in E, 45 cm, Early Music Shop model (2002), with soft case, Jennifer Burton bequest (2019), grade B | available |  |
| no. 100: 6 course baroque mandolin, 34 cm, by Edward Fitzgibbon (2000), Jennifer Burton bequest (2019), grade A, | available |  |
| no. 101: 6 course vihuela discante, 46.8 cm, by Alexander Batov (2002), currently strung in A, could be tuned in C, Jennifer Burton bequest (2019), with case, grade A, | available |  |
| no. 102: 7 course lute in G, 582mm, by David Van Edwards' Summer School (2009) grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 103: 8 course lute in G, 567 mm, by George A Heck ('Catania') (1962), formerly one of Diana Poulton's lutes, donated by Ann O'Donnell, grade B | under repair |  |
| no. 104: 8 course lute in G, 62 cm, by Ron Platt, undated, donated by Shirley Platt, grade B | awaiting restoration |  |
| no. 105: 5 course baroque guitar in E, 66.8 cm, by Marcos Kaiser Mori (2019), grade A | on hire |  |
| no. 106: 8-course lute in G, 60 cm, by Edward Fitzgibbon (1997) with Kingham case, on long loan from Charlotte Harford, grade B | withdrawn |  |
| no. 107: 13-course baroque lute by Martin Bowers (1976), 70/76cm, from Martin Cummins estate, grade B | available |  |
| no. 108: 14-course theorbo in A, by Adrian and Lawrence Dodd (2021) 86/160 cm, after Martin Kaiser (1609) Musée de la Musique E.24, single strung, grade A | available |  |
| no. 109: 6-course Egyptian oud (Aswan, c.2005), 61 cm, donated by Rod White, grade B | available |  |
| no. 110: 13-course baroque lute by James Marriage (2013) 67/73cm, donated by Matthew Ridgeon, grade B | available |  |
| no. 111: 7-course in E, by Peter Smart (1989), 72cm, donated by Matthew Ridgeon, grade A | available |  |
| no. 112: 8-course in G, 60 cm, by Lawrence K. Brown, after Hieber (1980), on long loan from Nigel Pope, grade B | available |  |
| no. 113: 7-course in G, 59 cm, by Lawrence K. Brown, after Hieber (1980), donated by the Midlands Early Music Forum, grade B | under minor maintenance |  |
| no. 114: 8-course lute, 60.7 cm, converted from a Turkish oud by Ian Harwood (1961), repaired Art Robb (2023) from the estate of Ailsa Dixon, donated by Josie Dixon, June 2023, grade B | under minor maintenance |  |
| no. 115: 8-course bass lute in D, 77.5 cm by John Massey (1993), donated by Sam Brown, grade B | under minor maintenance | |
