All of my instruments are built individually to my clients' specifications. All instruments are built with the same care and attention to detail. I don't do "assembly line runs" of any instrument. While I will build "no-frills" student instruments on request, I never use lesser quality materials or cut corners. I use the finest materials I can secure, and I carefully "tap test" the woods to ensure the best acoustic properties. I used hide glue on all joints of acoustical importance, such as the soundboard: this results in the best sounding instrument and has the advantage of making it easier to make repairs, should they ever become necessary.

If I'm not happy with something, I do it again. If you are not completely satisfied with the instrument, I will build another instrument that meets your approval.

Materials

Woods Used for the Bowls

Cypress, Yew, Curly Maple, Birdseye Maple, Curly Cherry, European Pear, European Plum, Sycamore, Walnut, Rosewood, Kingwood, Bloodwood (deep red), Ebony. 

Detail woods (edges, fingerboards, etc.)

Boxwood, Snakewood, Holly, Ebony, Bone, and other materials as I see fit and are available. I'm sorry, but due to import and export restrictions, I cannot use ivory.

Woods Used for the Soundboard

I use the finest German, Bosnian, and Romanian Spruce, carefully selected. I have used red cedar on some vihuelas with very good results: it yields very different sounding instruments that have pleased their owners.

Rosettes

The rosette is a flourish to the instrument that tests the builder's skill and imagination and helps establish the instrument's identity. I rarely make the exact same rosette twice. Here's some samples.

Workshop

Here is one of my latest creations, an 11-course lute. Click on the image to get a larger view.

For pictures of the completed instrument, see the Baroque Lutes page.