There are numerous baroque guitar models. The two featured here represent my choice. The guitar on the left is an anonymous early Italian model from a private collection, ca.1615, that I first built in 1993. This slim waisted guitar is lightly constructed throughout, with a sparsely barred soundboard. Over the last 15 years I have built models of early baroque guitars based on Oth, Koch and Sellas. But each time I hear one of my "anonymous" guitars in concert I am struck by how its transparent silvery tone embodies the spirit of the early Italian baroque. Click on the photo to open a dedicated page about this guitar.

Specifications: available with ebony or rosewood ribs and holly spacers and a string length of 66-67 cm.

The French guitar, on the right, modeled after an instrument by Jean Voboam (1690) is very different in construction. The Voboam is more heavily barred; the bouts are wider relative to length of the body and the bridge has migrated forward - all of which foreshadows the guitar's future development. This guitar favors the punteado style of playing. Click on the photo to open a dedicated page about this guitar.

There is a concert preview with Lucas Harris about continuo playing in general and French guitar in particular at: http://www.clevelandclassical.com/020811lharrisprev/. A review of Lucas' concert that calls my Voboam "the instrumental star of the evening" is at: http://www.clevelandclassical.com/021511ldguitarrerev/.

Specifications: ebony sides with a cypress, curly walnut or curly mahogany six piece back. The string length is 64-65cm.