Author Archives: Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

14 Histoires de Guitares

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

At the 8th of january an enveloppe fell on my doormat. So far nothing unusual, that happens regularly, but this time it contained a nice surprise: the new cd “14 Histoires de Guitares” by Canadian guitarist David Jacques. Over the … Continue reading →

Posted in Documentary, Guitar, History, Lectures, Music, Research, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

New plans: Gosewyn Spyker – a guitar from 1760…

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

Today I will give a lecture for the Dutch Lute Society about the oldest surviving guitar from the Netherlands. Made in 1760 in Amsterdam by Gosewyn Spyker. This guitar was preserved in the collection of Duivenvoorde Castle, where it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar, Guitar Plans, History, Projects, Research, Woodworking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Trossingen Lyre – A new set of plans…

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

As you know a large part of my year has been occupied with research after the lyre of Trossingen and making a couple reconstructions. I often got asked to make a set of plans for people who want to make … Continue reading →

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“The other Dual Tone”; Guyatone LG-60

Posted on August 3, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

About a year ago, a friend contacted me about an old guitar he found in the trash. He wanted to fix it himself, but lack of time had put it in a corner for years. If I took it in, … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar, Guitar Plans, Music, Restorations, Uncategorized, Workshop | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Prittlewell Lyre

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

In 2003, archaeologists of the Museum of London Archaeology uncovered the remains of an Anglo-Saxon grave chamber near Southend, Essex. It soon became apparent this was not a normal burial. The person had been laid to rest with a plethora … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Living history, lyre, Music, Projects, Re-enactment, Research, Uncategorized, Woodworking | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Digital Guitar and Lute Plans

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

You probably know my guitar and lute drawings. They’re quite (in)famous in the lutherie community. I’ve made them for a couple of years now, and literally hundreds of instruments have been constructed after them. Anything from Stradivari reconstructions to Danelectro … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar, Guitar Plans, Lute, Projects, Research, Uncategorized, Woodworking | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forgotten instruments: the “Chitarra Pomposa” or “Bach-Ukulele”

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

A couple of years ago two German musicologists, dr. Martin Schuft and Professor Hermann Lügner, did a remarkable discovery. On a flea market in Leipzig they found two boxes of old sheet music. Initially they didn’t think much of it, … Continue reading →

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“The Beast unleashed”- the Lion Theorbo leaving the nest.

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

As you know I am working on a large theorbo after the Matheus Buechenberg (Rome, 1614) in the V&A museum. Nomally I make lutes with anything from 7 to 19 ribs. But making a 41 rib bowl in Yew heartwood … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Lute, Music, Printing press, Projects, Uncategorized, Woodworking, Workshop | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Guestblog: The Lyre of Trossingen – pt. 3

Posted on February 26, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

Luit van der Tuuk is a Dutch author and independent researcher, specialized in the early middle ages. He is also the curator of Museum Dorestad in Wijk bij Duurstede. In the early middle ages, musical instruments had a special meaning, … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, History, lyre, Music, Projects, Research, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Printing at the castle

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

A week ago I was giving a demonstration with the Minion Press at Wijchen Castle. The local television made a small item about it. The Minion Press is lent to the museum for the exhibition “Strengels en Letters” about book … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Living history, Printing press, Re-enactment, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment