After Marx Unverdorben, Harvard University Collection of Instruments, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The orginal lute is much altered but the 13 rib ivory bowl is intact and stable, which means that the contour of the bowl is as the builder intended. It provides a beautiful example of an early almond shaped bowl. I am equally enthusiastic about it as the basis for an early 10 course, French 11 and "Dutch" 12. Displayed on the left is my newest Unverdorben 10 course built with a yew bowl and a string length of 66.5 cm.

Click here to see detail photos of this lute.

Specifications: 13 ribs of yew or bird's eye maple with ebony spacers. The bowl is 30cm. wide, 47.5 to the neck joint and 15.5 deep. Minimum fretted string lengths of: 64cm for a 10 course, 67-68 cm for an 11 or 12 course lute.