iLuthier

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.

Gabon Ebony Cue Blank / Turning Block Set of 4 @ 23" x 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" US $120.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 13:11:56 PDT   | Watch this Item

GERMAN MAPLE EBONY UNSLOTTED BLANK BANJO BRIDGE 5/8" US $4.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 13:29:01 PDT   | Watch this Item

GERMAN MAPLE EBONY UNSLOTTED BLANK BANJO BRIDGE 1/2" US $4.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 13:29:07 PDT   | Watch this Item

Ebony blank double bass tailpieces 3/4 with tail gut US $29.99 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 15:08:04 PDT   | Watch this Item

GABON EBONY HEAD PLATE BLANK LUTHIER WOOD EXOTIC LUMBER TONEWOOD US $17.95 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:08:15 PDT   | Watch this Item

Black & White Ebony Wood Turning Four Blanks 3/4x3/4x12 Buy It Now~Shipped Free US $32.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:44:04 PDT   | Watch this Item

8 Black & White Ebony Pen Blanks US $16.01 (3 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 18:00:26 PDT   | Watch this Item

4 Black & White Ebony Pen Blanks US $7.90 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 18:29:49 PDT   | Watch this Item

NOTE: Click on the picture to see some of Oliver Wadsworth’s work.

A small collection of lute roses and medieval guitar rosettes by renown British instrument maker Oliver Wadsworth can be found in gallery section of this site. Each of the featured roses come from Oliver’s website which contains a wealth of information for lute makers.

Along with lutes, Wadsworth Instruments also make a range of archlutes, theorbos and renaissance and baroque guitars, and Oliver 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. Along with using historical references, Wadsworth Instruments is also happy to make copies of specific instruments for their clients.

We’ll be featuring some of Oliver’s amazing instrument making in the next day or so. In the meantime though, click here to check out Oliver Wadsworth’s lute roses and guitar rosettes which we have up in the gallery section. You’ll no doubt agree that the workmanship is superb.

If you want to find out more about Oliver Wadsworth and his work as a lute, theorbo and guitar maker, click here to go to his website.

FIVE, ACOUSTIC, CLASSICAL, GUITAR ROSETTES / INLAY, SOUND HOLE #5-14-1 US $18.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 16:22:26 PDT   | Watch this Item

ZEBRAWOOD GUITAR ROSETTE / INLAY LUTHIER WOOD EXOTIC LUMBER TONEWOOD US $17.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:05:10 PDT   | Watch this Item

BRAZILIAN TULIP GUITAR ROSETTE / INLAY LUTHIER WOOD EXOTIC LUMBER TONEWOOD US $17.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:06:03 PDT   | Watch this Item

BIRDS EYE MAPLE GUITAR ROSETTE / INLAY LUTHIER WOOD EXOTIC LUMBER TONEWOOD US $16.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:07:41 PDT   | Watch this Item

POMELLE SAPELE GUITAR ROSETTE / INLAY LUTHIER WOOD EXOTIC LUMBER TONEWOOD US $17.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:08:58 PDT   | Watch this Item

PADAUK GUITAR ROSETTE / INLAY LUTHIER WOOD EXOTIC LUMBER TONEWOOD US $16.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:10:44 PDT   | Watch this Item

TOP QUALITY ROSETTE ,10, ACOUSTIC GUITAR ABALONE INLAY ROSEWOOD US $96.99 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:50:47 PDT   | Watch this Item

2* B--13 ACOUSTIC GUITAR ABALONE INLAY ROSEWOOD ROSETTE US $27.99 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:50:53 PDT   | Watch this Item

While I want to do a profile on Ervin Somogyi and his guitar making sometime soon, I thought I would concentrate today on some of the fantastic work he does in carving lute roses.

Ervin uses a lot of historical influences as you would expect. After all it’s not unusual for any instrument maker to “borrow” from the past and use existing designs. It seems to be a little more prevalent with violin and lute makers though. Not all of the designs that Ervin uses, however, are from existing instruments but rather a varied and wide ranging assortment of ideas and designs found in books and paintings as well as architecture, furniture, interior decoration and other historical references.

While not every lute rose that Ervin creates will actually wind up being in an instrument the work is, nonetheless, extraordinary. Indeed many of these roses will end up in beautifully crafted jewelry boxes and pieces of furniture as well as grace the walls of those clients fortunate enough to be able to afford these works of art. Whether it’s on a wall, a box or an instrument though the dedication, craftsmanship and the attention to detail found in the roses is the same.

To check out some of the beautiful imagery that Ervin Somogyi creates with his lute roses, click here.

To find out more about him and his work as a guitar maker, click here.

And stay tuned for a profile on Ervin’s lutherie here soon.

Washburn J-6 Archtop Jazz Guitar US $400.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 13:44:53 PDT   | Watch this Item

Godin Multiac Jazz Spruce Electric Guitar Archtop Acoustic Spruce Top NEW US $1,799.00 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:03:01 PDT   | Watch this Item

HOFNER HCT-J17 JAZZ ARCHTOP L5 ELECTRIC ACOUSTIC GUITAR CHERRY SUNBURST US $379.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:20:21 PDT   | Watch this Item

New Archtop Jazz Guitar Bridge Rosewood Chrome Hardware guitar parts US $16.99 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 19:06:50 PDT   | Watch this Item

Collectible 40th Ann. Peerless Leela Jazz archtop guitar NAMM Demo w/ Hardcase US $2,150.00 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 22:09:02 PDT   | Watch this Item

JAZZ GUITAR SOLOING METHOD for Archtop, Electric, Acoustic US $29.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday May-20-2012 8:55:11 PDT   | Watch this Item

1950'S AIRLINE KAY 17" ARCHTOP JAZZ ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR SPRUCE TOP US $399.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday May-20-2012 9:09:47 PDT   | Watch this Item

Artec Side Mount Pickup for Arch Top Jazz Guitar Gold US $14.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday May-20-2012 9:26:42 PDT   | Watch this Item