Cittern or Lute ?

musicalstash · May 2023

Hi can anyone help identify this instrument

I have it up for sale but not too sure if it is a Cittern or Lute ? 16 strings with what feels like a hollow neck , I read that Citterns use metal strings but this has both bronze and nylon strings .

https://ibb.co/WP9qHnk

https://ibb.co/0K6F4Hc

octatonic · May 2023

Generally speaking

Citterns have a flat back.
Lutes have a bowl.

Kittyfrisk · May 2023

Ask Sting

BlueStrat · May 2023

I’m no help at all but how on earth would you play that instrument?
I’d need a year just to change the strings!

Open_G · May 2023

I wouldn’t be certain it’s either. Citterns are to my knowledge 5 courses of strings.

KKJale · May 2023

I would hazard a guess at a modern flatback eleven-course lute.

musicalstash · May 2023

KKJale said:

I would hazard a guess at a modern flatback eleven-course lute.

Thanks , will go with this option when listing .

more · May 2023

Cittern and lutes are related instruments and both come in a number of different versions. But, all cittern have wire strings and lutes are gut/nylon strung. The bridge and neck would suggest it has been made for nylon strings . The windings on nylon strings are not always silver in colour .

Mellish · June 2023

I'd say a lute.

They're nylon strings for sure. Note the "boy scout" knots at the bridge.

musicalstash · June 2023

Thanks again for the comments will go down the lute route -

Funkfingers · June 2023

Mellish said:

Note the "boy scout" knots at the bridge.

Hitches, actually.

Mellish · June 2023

@Funkfingers ; there's some wonderful boyscout knots knocking around. Some are so simple yet work fantastically well.

guitarjack66 · August 2023

' Sixteen strings and what to you get? Mighty frustrated and covered in sweat!'
To paraphrase Tennesse Ernie Ford.

domforr · September 2023

Definitely not a lute, based on modern interpretations of historical drawings and surviving instruments. I would class it as a 'glute' (yes, it's a real thing). Basically a hybrid guitar/lute which started to appear in the 19th century once the lute was passed it's peak. Curious to know what the tuning is, as an 11c instrument would normally be tuned to Dm, but this is probably in a guitar like tuning.

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Cittern or Lute ?

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