Renaissance Cittern

A reproduction of Renaissance Cittern, date or make are unknown (may have been made by Early Music Shop etc.).

General condition is very good with some light marks to body. Fretwork has been reconditioned - levelled, crowned and polished so as good as new. Original nut was made of rosewood but had few chips at strings spacings so has been replaced with new cattle bone which should last longer. Ebony bridge also had chips so it now has added bone saddle.

Action is set nice and low at both nut and bridge providing action of 2.5mm at 12th. It may be lowered further down if needed however tension is rather low here and left hand playing is effortless so it's better to leave sufficient height for strings to ring freely.

Cittern is fitted with new custom set of strings with following gauges

B .014 – G.030 g.016 G0.30 – D .012 – E .010

Should you require a sound sample please drop me a message with your email, though I don't really play cittern I can record something to give you an idea of it's tonal qualities.

Soundboard – Solid Spruce with decorative rose and purfling

Back and sides – Sycamore

Neck – L shape Sycamore

Fretboard – Pear wood

Nut – Bone

Bridge – Ebony with bone saddle

Frets – 17 Flat Brass Wire

Tuners – Rosewood Pegs

Instruments measurements are as follows:

• total length 75.5cm
• body length 35.5cm
• body width 22.6cm

• body depth 5.3cm at neck, 2.3cm at tailpiece
• from nut fret to 12th fret 226mm/ 8.897inch (total scale length 452mm/17.795inch)
• Neck width at nut is 41.2mm, at body merge 41.5mm

Any question feel free to ask, thanks.