Yes you read it correctly. As a summer surprise I’m giving away one of my plans for free…
Click here to download the plans
A year ago some of my students at the Bouwerskontakt lutherie course asked whether they could make some historical instruments. A baroque lute (plans to follow) and a Vihuela de Mano.
For the vihuela we decided on a smaller version of the Chambure model, kept in the Cité de la Musique in Paris. The reason is that a vihuela in G is very practical for players, especially in a 7-course version; it’s tuned the same way as an alto lute. You can make both 6- and 7-course models with this set of plans.
This is an ideal instrument to start with. You don’t need huge amount of woods, and is rather simple to build. The construction is quite similar to a classical guitar. In a way it is a more basic version.
The first built is well under way, and we hope to complete it in a couple of months.
You can download the plans here in PDF format and print them at your local print shop.
These plans are offered with a Creative Commons License. You may use them for non-commercial and educational purposes.
The Dutch Luthier 
Thank you, much appreciated!
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Thanks for this man
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Your generosity is well appreciated.
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Thank you for generosity Jan! I appreciate your posts and I have learned a lot from them. If you ever happen to pass near Parma, Italy please let me know. I would be very happy to meet you in person.
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What a great gift to the lovers of Early Music. Thanks so much. Very appreciated.
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Grato , Buena suerte!!
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It’s very generous of you. Thanks!
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This is very magnanimous of you, Jan–thanks so much!
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That’s very decent of you. Keep writing those articles too, they are very informative an enjoyable.
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What a treat! Thank you so very much.
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Looking at the side view cutaway, what is the 41.25 mm measurement on the lower soundboard brace marking out? I haven’t been able to figure it out on my own, so any insight would be appreciated. Thank you.
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Dear Kyle, those pieces are supports for the harmonic bars. Little consoles glued to the sides.
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Thank you so much!! I will definitely put this on my luthier list! ha ha… I was browsing the web for stradivarius guitar plans when I found your plans here…you don’t happen to know where I could pick up a download of stradivarius plans? Some I found are a bit out of my price range (like…free, hahaha). But if I can find plans on the web, I can invest more in good wood and materials. Would be fun to make one of those, too. 🙂 Thanks so much for the Vihuela’s!!!! You rock!
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Dear Pam,
I have drawn a set of plans for the Stradivari guitar. You can find them here; https://payhip.com/b/5ZaR
Yours,
Jan
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