Svenskluta

Svenskluta (Swedish theorbo), eight strings on fingerboard and seven diapasons. Asymmetrical pear-shaped outline with back of hybrid lute/cittern form. Front, two-piece, of fine to wide grain with ebony edging; soundhole with ebonised cross-bar of triangular section; collar of chequered inlay of ebony and boxwood, enclosed in lines of box. Ebonised pin-bridge with bone saddle, and ebony hitchpins with bone inlays. Maple ribs, of slight curl, sloping steeply in towards back at shoulders. Vaulted back of seven ribs of maple with central rib forming large button on heel of neck. Plain maple neck with steeply-angled joint to body (c. 50°). Main pegbox has eight pegs with shield-shaped boxwood heads; off-set ‘theorbo’ pegbox, has hook finial with flat face and bevelled edges and holds seven pegs; ebony fingerboard flush with front; slightly convex at nut end; nine metal frets, the ninth at joint with front.