I recently finished two new theorbos based on models that had been the subjects of several of my museum visits. The theorbo on the left is modelled after Pietro Railich, Musical Instrument Museum, Brussels, No. 1569. The original belly is shown in the second photograph, upper left. I want to offer a smaller instrument that compliments my large Kaiser theorbo. The Railich has the same elegant contours and moderately flattened back as the Kaiser but is smaller in size. This theorbo has a strong clear voice that is perfect for solo and voice accompanment. It is robust enough for small ensemble work.

Specifications: the 25 to 31 rib rosewood or yew bowl is approximately 35 mm wide, 53 mm long and 15.5 mm deep. The string lengths of this example are 80 and 150 cm.

The second theorbo is based on the baroque lute, NMM 10213, shown in the photograph in the upper left, by Thomas Edlinger who used a bowl that may have been constructed by Magno Tieffenbrucker. It is one of the pair of Edlinger lutes in the National Music Museum, Vermillion South Dakota. This bowl and belly design makes wonderful lutes of any style. There is a description of this instrument built as a swan neck baroque lute on my baroque lute page.

Specifications: the 11 rib rosewood or bird's eye maple bowl is approximately 35.5 centimeters wide, 52.5 long and 14.5 deep. The string lengths of this example are 75 and 145cm.