Vihuela de Mano

The Vihuela and the Renaissance guitar

Various Vihuelas and 4 course guitars. The Vihuela has a string length of 600mm and is tuned the same as a Renaissance lute in this case G-D-A-F-C-G. I also can offer a 7 course Vihuela which has a larger and deeper body size which has a string length of 610mm.The vihuela can have either a V-joint pegbox with vertical pegs or a carved pegbox in the manner of a Gittern (Viola de mano).The Renaissance guitar has a string length of 530mm and is usually tuned G-C-E-A.

Both based on iconography and my own design, strictly made to historical technique. Construction uses quarter sawn timbers for stability and animal glues for adhesion , for finish an oil finish or linseed oil based varnish is used. Apart from a bandsaw and bending iron all my instruments are made by hand- no CNC or laser cutting are involved. Guitars from this era were traditionally loaded with fancy decoration sometimes to the detriment to the sound, I can offer as little or as much as you like!