Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: My latest build: A medieval gittern

  1. #1
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    London, UK.
    Posts
    817

    Default My latest build: A medieval gittern

    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

  2. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Dusepo For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    Registered User John Kelly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Ardnadam, Argyll, Scotland
    Posts
    2,280

    Default Re: My latest build: A medieval gittern

    Another lovely creation, Jo. I love the simple ornamentation on the headstock and your rosettes are always so beautifully intricate.
    I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order. - Eric Morecambe

    http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOldBores

  4. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to John Kelly For This Useful Post:


  5. #3

    Default Re: My latest build: A medieval gittern

    Really fascinating to read about. Lovely job! What tuning are you using?

    https://earlymusicmuse.com/gitternshorthistory/
    Last edited by MrMoe; Jun-10-2021 at 7:47am.

  6. The following members say thank you to MrMoe for this post:

    Dusepo 

  7. #4
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    London, UK.
    Posts
    817

    Default Re: My latest build: A medieval gittern

    Quote Originally Posted by MrMoe View Post
    Really facinating to read about. Lovely job! What tuning are you using?

    https://earlymusicmuse.com/gitternshorthistory/
    Thanks both! This is tuned in all fourths.

    I should add that they were historically carved out of a solid block of wood, but mine are constructed from ribs like a small lute.

    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

  8. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dusepo For This Useful Post:


  9. #5
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peace and Love
    Posts
    2,416

    Default Re: My latest build: A medieval gittern

    Very nice!
    Yes the avian creature is great, gives you a feeling of how different we were at that time.
    I was wondering, when they made them from solid wood, what types?

  10. The following members say thank you to Simon DS for this post:

    Dusepo 

  11. #6
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Beautiful Salem County, NJ
    Posts
    2,004

    Default Re: My latest build: A medieval gittern

    Thanks for posting this, Jo. I always enjoy seeing your creations. This one is especially to my taste. Simply beautiful!

    Best wishes,

    Bob
    Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album

  12. The following members say thank you to Bob Clark for this post:

    Dusepo 

  13. #7
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    London, UK.
    Posts
    817

    Default Re: My latest build: A medieval gittern

    Quote Originally Posted by Simon DS View Post
    Very nice!
    Yes the avian creature is great, gives you a feeling of how different we were at that time.
    I was wondering, when they made them from solid wood, what types?
    As in which woods? I'd imagine any European hardwood suitable for carving. There aren't many surviving, but one surviving gittern made by Hans Oth in Nürnberg (Nuremberg) in what is today Germany in 1450 was made from Maple.
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

  14. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dusepo For This Useful Post:


  15. #8
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    London, UK.
    Posts
    817

    Default Re: My latest build: A medieval gittern

    Sound and video sample:
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

  16. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Dusepo For This Useful Post:


  17. #9
    Registered User John Kelly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Ardnadam, Argyll, Scotland
    Posts
    2,280

    Default Re: My latest build: A medieval gittern

    That has a powerful yet sweet sound for a fairly small body, Jo. Is this due to the separate soundboard and ribbed construction rather than the mediaeval carved construction? I am assuming you have the frets positioned to give semitone intervals?
    I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order. - Eric Morecambe

    http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOldBores

  18. The following members say thank you to John Kelly for this post:

    Dusepo 

  19. #10
    Registered User TheMandoKit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Posts
    398

    Default Re: My latest build: A medieval gittern

    As always, thanks for posting the pictures and the clip. Your work is wonderful to look at, and I enjoy hearing the instruments played. Please do keep posting as you build more.

  20. The following members say thank you to TheMandoKit for this post:

    Dusepo 

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •