❌SOLD❌ Darryl Williams 8-Course Renaissance Lute, 1976

This 8-course Renaissance lute by the late Darryl Williams brings back memories for us, recalling when it was in our shop during its construction. Built on the outskirts of the small town of Schomberg in a rural area of Ontario not too far north of Toronto, this lute follows traditional construction techniques.  It is very light weight, at under two pounds.  

The Darryl Williams 8-Course Renaissance Lute was based on a bowl-back design, using a set of bent ribs that are arched to provide stiffness. The ribs start with a ‘teardrop’ shape and are then bent, and the edges are bevelled according to the number of ribs. They are glued together with hide glue in the joins, and parchment strips soaked in hide glue are applied to the inside of the seams. As well, the inside of the bowl is wetted, causing the inside surface of the ribs to swell, and a bit of glue is painted on to hold the wood cells in their swollen state. This gives the concave appearance of the ribs on the outside of the bowl, and adds considerable strength.  The top join is similarly sealed with strips of parchment soaked in hide glue.   It’s possible that animal Vellum was originally used instead of parchment, but as that was made from very young calf skin, it is seldom now found. 

The neck is usually basswood for weight reduction, with a maple veneer and an Indian Rosewood fingerboard.  With this instrument being as light as it is,  veneered Basswood is likely.    The Maple head box is dowelled onto the neck, and Rosewood friction pegs are used. Aside from the three glued on body extension frets, the frets are tied on in the traditional manner – though, not traditionally, the material is nylon string.

This Darryl Williams 8-Course Renaissance Lute is in very good condition and while it has not been played much over the years, it has been well looked after.

A well-fitting hard shell case is included.