David J. Rubio Lute (1972)

An incredible rarity from David J. Rubio (1934-2000), a lute formerly from the collection of Oswald Rantucci (1907-1988), a well-known violinist, guitarist, and founder of the classical guitar department at SUNY Buffalo, who ordered it new in 1972. Built in Oxford shortly after Rubio's return to England, this masterwork features eight courses with two individual strings, with a finely grained European spruce top with intricately carved decorative rosette, nine scalloped ribs of flamed maple make of the back, with its dividing purfling extending into the 650mm scale scale tapered rosewood fingerboard; traditional internal parchment construction with dated maker label inside. The bone nut has a 780mm width, with 7 metal frets, and five of rosewood that are set into the top. The angled peghead is gorgeous, with a eight total courses with last single string built into a separate scroll embellishment, and 14 carved rosewood friction pegs. In fantastic original condition, there is minimal finish wear, and very light binding edge roughness along one of the middle ribs on bottom edge; neck is straight and the top shows no sinkage or lifting. Included in the sale is original Robinwood custom hard case with orange interior.