Build your own Baroque Lute!

I have created a thoroughly comprehensive course in CD-ROM or USB form, for anyone who would like to make their own 13 course baroque lute based on the J C Hoffman lute of 1730.

I will normally send this in CD form, but if you would prefer it on a USB memory stick please email me separately now, or when you order.

Conclusion of review in Classical Guitar, Nov 2003. Click here to read the whole review.

This is a suitable instrument for playing the music of J S Bach and S L Weiss and will, I hope, be of interest to guitarists who would like to try their hand at lute music but are put off by the cost of acquiring their own instrument, as well as renaissance lutenists looking to explore the baroque repertoire.

The lute should take about a year to complete on the basis of spending about 3 hours a week on it. I’ve had over 20 years experience in teaching amateurs and fellow professionals to make lutes and other instruments and I believe it is an entirely possible undertaking, even for those with little woodworking experience. However it will require a certain level of commitment and determination.

This is a completely revised and enlarged version of the successful course which took place on the internet from April 1999 to April 2000.

If you read German there is a very nice full review of the course written by Hajo Dezelski published in the German guitar magazine, Gitarre Aktuell.

Participants are encouraged to send pictures of their progress or their difficulties to be posted on the website.

Now with an added section showing you how to produce the revolutionary new lightweight case I have developed.



For more information about this case please click here.
The costs of the materials and the few tools required will vary from country to country and according to their quality; but as a guide, I would estimate a total cost of about £130 for materials if you turn your own pegs or £200 if you buy the pegs. The material costs can easily be spread over the period of making, since you don't need anything other than the wood for the back at first.

Further details of materials and suppliers can be seen on the information pages below.

Price £80.00 plus post.
Please select your postal area and click on the appropriate button
If you want the package sent to a different address from your billing address, please contact me before paying, otherwise I might send it off to the wrong address!
If this is a gift for someone, please just me with their name and I can include a version of the introductory letter that says it is a gift from you but does not mention the price .

I will normally send this in CD form, but if you would prefer it on a USB memory stick please email me separately now!

UK (First Class post) The price will include £3.70 First Class post
Europe The price will include £8.47 Airmail post
World, except USA and Australasia The price will include £12.23 Airmail post
USA The price will include £17.73 Airmail post (Sorry about this, but USA has unilaterally and dramatically raised its prices for incoming post!)
Australasia The price will include £13.02 Airmail post

Alternatively I welcome payment by Sterling cheque drawn on a UK bank. Please work out the correct total for your postal area and then make out a cheque for that amount to David Van Edwards and send it to me at: The Smokehouse, 6 Whitwell Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 4HB, England

If you wish to buy both the baroque and the renaissance courses at once, I can offer a £20 discount, which makes a total
Price £140 plus post
Please select your postal area and click on the appropriate button

UK (First Class post) The price will include £3.70 First Class post
Europe The price will include £8.47 Airmail post
World, except USA and Australasia The price will include £12.23 Airmail post
USA The price will include £17.73 Airmail post (Sorry about this, but USA has unilaterally and dramatically raised its prices for incoming post!)
Australasia The price will include £13.02 Airmail post