Lute Rental Program Collection
In terms of the instruments included in this rental collection, please note that the Lute Society of America neither endorses nor discriminates against any particular luthier or lute maker based on any factor other than the quality of the instruments produced. We encourage and support the outstanding work of all!
The
list below displays the instruments in the LSA Rental Collection.
"Courses" means the number of pairs of strings on the instrument and
"mensur" is the vibrating string length (the length of the string from
the point it leaves the bridge to the point it touches the nut). The
best instrument for a beginner interested in learning to play the available written music of
the late Medieval through the Renaissance periods (ca. 1400 - 1600) is a
6, 7, or 8 course Renaissance lute. Baroque lutes of 11-14 courses are
built larger and are designed and tuned in d-minor to play the Baroque
repertoire (ca 1600 - 1750). They are not appropriate for playing lute
music written before the Baroque period. The
Renaissance lutes in this collection are tuned to g' (unless otherwise noted for a particular instrument) and at a pitch
standard of A = 440 Hertz (modern concert pitch). The Baroque lutes in
this collection are tuned to d minor and at a pitch standard of A = 415
Hertz (a pitch that is often called the "Baroque pitch" but is really a compromise between a variety of "Baroque" pitches that ranged between 392 and 465 depending on where one was in Europe in the Baroque era, what instruments were being played, the mood desired, etc.) The rental rate for all instruments (exceptions noted below) is $55 a month. See the Rental Agreement for more details.
Instrument ID # | Photo (Click on each to enlarge) | Type of Instrument / Mensur / Builder / Date | Availablity |
1 |  | 13 course Baroque lute tuned to d minor, Mensur 71 cm, made by Lyn Elder, 1991. Donated by Jim Washburn. Current value of lute and case is $3,450 | Available |
2 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 59 cm, made by Larry K. Brown, 1990. Current value of lute and case is $3,250 | Rented |
3 |
| 6 course Vihuela, Mensur 59.7, made by Lyn Elder. Current value of vihuela and case is $2,520 | Available |
4 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 61 cm, made by Lyn Elder, 1975. Donated by Charles Perrier in memory of Angene Feves. Current value of lute and case is $3,500 | Rented |
5 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 60 cm, made by Aria. Current value of lute and case is $2,500 See and hear this lute being played: https://youtu.be/Ef8MCPkyuvY | Rented |
6 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 60 cm, made by Robert Meadow, 1979. Donated by Edward "Ned" Mast. Current value of lute and case is $1,500 | Rented |
7 |  | 7 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 59 cm, made by Dan Larson, 2012. Current value of lute and case is $2,500. See and hear this lute being played: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0bUm3JgkXA | Rented |
8 |  | 6 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to a', Mensur 56 cm, made by Larry K. Brown, 1992. Current value of lute and case is $1,500 See and hear his lute being played: https://youtu.be/rCf1nF1F0VI | Available |
9 |
| 7 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 59 cm, made by Donald Warnock, 1960. Donated by Susan Sandman. Current value of lute and case is $2,500 | Rented |
10 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 59 cm, made by Richard Fletcher, 1982. Donated by Deborah Bloomberg. Current value of lute and case is $2,500 | Rented |
11 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 63 cm, made by Harold Snyder, 1978. Donated by Deborah Bloomberg. Current value of lute and case is $2,500 See and hear this lute being played: https://youtu.be/DKowq7kuexo | Rented |
12 |
| 7 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 59 cm, made in Dan Larson & David van Edwards' 2014 workshop. Donated by Dan Larson, 2014. Current value of lute and case is $2,500 | Rented |
13 |
| 7 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 58 cm, made by Colin Everett, 1985. Donated by Steve Ramey. Current value of case and case is $2,000 | Rented |
14 |
| 7 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 59 cm, made by Paul Klemm, 2010. Current value of lute and case is $1,500 See and hear this lute being played: https://youtu.be/HOeOyW5ZkE8 | Rented |
15 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 62 cm, made by EMS. Donated by Joe Mayes. Current value of lute and case is $500 See and hear this lute being played: https://youtu.be/kV1N1-bQHP4 | Available |
16 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 59 cm, made by Haldon Chase, 1970. Donated by Steve Ramey. Current value of lute and case is $650 | Available |
17 |
| 10 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 62.5 cm, made by Enrico Piretti, 1958. Donated by Annette Mathey. Current value of lute and case is $1,000 See and hear this lute being played: https://youtu.be/mzaOSVK2ls4 | Available |
18 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 60.5 cm, made by EMS, 2008. Current value of lute and case is $1,000 | Available |
19 |
| 7 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 60 cm, made by David Fitzpatrick, 2011. Donated by Edward "Ned" Mast. Current value of lute and case is $2,500 | Rented |
20 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 57 cm, made by EMS. Donated by an anonymous donor. Current value of lute and case is $500 See and hear this lute being played: https://youtu.be/ZE8cxsItCXo | Available |
21 |
| 10 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 62 cm, made by Raymond Passauro, 1969. Donated by WIlliam Hooper. Current value of lute and case is $3,500 | Available |
22 |
| 7 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 64 cm, made by Mark Butler, 1982. Donated by Greg Silverman. Current value of lute and case is $2,000 | Available |
23 |
| 11 course Baroque lute tuned to D minor, Mensur 66 cm, made by Luciano Faria, 2002. Donated by Greg Silverman. Current value of lute and case is $900 | Available |
24 |
| 5 course Baroque guitar tuned to e', Mensur 63.8 cm, made by Dan Larson, 2007. Donated by Robert Margo. Current value of guitar and case is $3,500 | Rented |
25 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 58.6 cm, made by James North, 1996. Donated by Suzanne Schwartz in memory of Robert Crim. Current value of lute and case is $1,500 | Available |
26 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g', Mensur 62.25 cm, made by Arthur Middleton, 1975. Donated by Suzanne Schwartz in memory of Robert Crim. Current value of lute and case is $1,500 | Available |
27 |
| 14 course Archlute, Mensur 56.8 / 84.5 cm, made by Mel Wong, 1994. Standard g' tuning through c 6 then F, E, D, C, B, A, G, F. Donated by Suzanne Schwartz in memory of Robert Crim. Current value of lute and case is $4,000. | Available |
28 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g'. Mensur 59 cm, made by Le Luth Dore' 2015 (Beginner Model). Donated by Suzanne Schwartz in memory of Robert Crim. Current value of lute and case is $1,700. | Rented |
29 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g'. Mensur 59 cm, made by Le Luth Dore' 2015 (Advanced Model). Donated by Suzanne Schwartz in memory of Robert Crim. Current value of lute and case is $2,300. | Rented |
30 |
| 13 course Baroque lute tuned to d minor. Mensur 69 cm, made by Le Luth Dore' 2016 (Advanced Model). Donated by Suzanne Schwartz in memory of Robert Crim. Current value of lute and case is $2,550. | Rented |
31 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g'. Mensur 66 cm. Made by Larry K. Brown, 1988. Donated by Mary Lou O'Brien in memory of Pat O'Brien. Current value of lute and case is $2,100. | Available |
32 |
| 6 course Renaissance alto lute tuned to a'. Mensur 54.3 cm. Made by Larry K. Brown, 1982. Donated by Mary Lou O'Brien in memory of Pat O'Brien. Current value of lute and case is $1,800. | Rented |
33 |
| 6 course Renaissance descant/soprano lute tuned to d'. Mensur 43.8 cm. Made by Larry K. Brown, 1985. Donated by Mary Lou O'Brien
in memory of Pat O'Brien. Current value of lute and case is $1,700. | Available |
34 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g'. Mensur 57.2 cm. Made by EMS, 2005. Donated by Mary Lou O'Brien in memory of Pat O'Brien. Current value of lute and case is $1,000. | Available |
35 |
| 8
course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g'. Mensur 59.7 cm. Made by Jean Crepeau, 1992. Donated by William Thatcher. Current value of lute and case is $1,500. | Rented |
36 |
| 6 course Renaissance descant/soprano lute tuned to g'. Mensur 49.85 cm. Made by EMS, 2014. Donated by Carol Pierce. Current value of lute and case is $700. | Available |
37 |
| 13 course Baroque lute tuned to d minor. Mensur 71 / 99.4 cm, made in Dan Larson & David van Edwards' 2014 workshop. Donated by Dan Larson, 2016. Current value of lute and case is $9,200. Click here to hear this lute being played by Ed Martin. Because of the high value of this instrument, the security deposit and monthly rent will be higher than for other instruments in this collection. | Rented |
38 |
| 11 course Baroque lute tuned to d minor. Mensur 67 cm, made in 1957 by unknown Parisian luthier. Donated by Meredith Connie, 2016. Current value of lute and case is $1,500. | Rented |
39 |
| 7 course Renaissance alto lute tuned to a'. Mensur 51.75 cm. Made by Dan Larson, 2006. Donated by Dr. Susan Wright. Current value of lute and case is $2,700. | Available |
40 |
| 6 course Vihuela tune to g'. Mensur cm. Made and donated by Joe Mayes, 2016. Current value of vihuela and case is $1,000. | Available |
41 |
| 14 course archlute tuned to g'. Mensur 65 / 140 cm. Made by Barber and Harris, 2016. Donated by Jean Toombs in memory of Stephen Toombs. Current value of lute and case is $8,200. See and hear this lute being played: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QurabGJRZw Because of the high value of this instrument, the security deposit and monthly rent will be higher than for other instruments in this collection. | Rented |
42 |
| 8 course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g'. Mensur 59 cm. Made by Larry K. Brown, 1992. Donated by Stephen Morris. Current value of lute and case is $2,000. | Available |
43 |
| 4 course Renaissance guitar lute. Mensur 50 cm. Attributed to Larry K. Brown, 1990. Donated by Elise Stiles. Current value of guitar and case is $600. Current value of lute and case is $800. | Available |
44 | Photo coming soon! | 8
course Renaissance tenor lute tuned to g'. Mensur 60cm. Made by Thomas Neitzert (1984). Donated by Elise Stiles. | Available after July 1, 2017 |