Lute Maker – Oliver Wadsworth
Saturday, December 31st, 2005
Click on the images to go to the gallery.
Oliver Wadsworth is a British maker of lutes, archlutes, theorbos and renaissance and baroque guitars, and he has been making stringed instruments of one sort or another since 1985. His designs are usually based on existing instruments found in museums and private collections around the world. Iconographic sources are also used – especially for early and more obscure instruments where little physical evidence is available – though he’s happy to make copies of specific instruments..
In 1990 a growing interest in early plucked instruments led Oliver to the prestigious West Dean college, near Chichester, where he trained under the direction of Martin Haycock. The course at West Dean is a three year apprenticeship scheme in which the vast majority of course time is spent “at the bench” working on instruments commissioned by paying customers. This system puts great emphasis on the set-up and playability of instruments as well as quality of craftsmanship and is a sure fast way for makers to learn their craft in a professional environment. At West Dean emphasis is also placed on a knowledge of the history and evolution of the instruments concerned. The specialist techniques of repair and restoration are also covered in detail.
After graduating from West Dean, Wadsworth set up a workshop in Worcestershire making early plucked instruments, specialising in members of the lute family and early renaissance and baroque guitars.
Wadsworth Instruments will usually choose woods that are historically relevant for the particular instrument, however if the customer has a preference for particular woods to be used then this can be negotiated. The principal timbers used for bodies are ash (rippled), sycamore or maple (rippled), Canadian rock maple (bird’s eye), yew, plum, cherry (European or American), walnut (black) and cypress. In addition to these, ebony, rosewood and snakewood can be used if desired.
Fingerboards are made from ebony or plum and pegs are made from plum, maple, boxwood or ebony. All soundboards are European spruce, unless otherwise specified.
To check out Oliver Wadsworth’s lutes and guitars in the gallery, click here.
To find out more about him and his work as a lute, theorbo and guitar maker, click here.
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