Category Archives: Woodworking

The Renaissance and Baroque Lutes

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

It might seem that I am on a plan drawing frenzy at the moment. That’s true, but I am also finishing up a lot of things I made in the past. Two years ago a couple of my students at … Continue reading →

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

A beautiful Baritone Ukulele

Posted on July 27, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

“The Gift of Music Lasts a Lifetime” that’s how the musical instrument page of the 1952 “Christmas Catalog” of Sears & Roebuck opens. On the page there is the crème de la crème of 1952 teenage dreams: accordeons, three guitars, … Continue reading →

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

At the roots of the guitar; The Carolingian CYTHARA.

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

Perhaps you have already caught a glimpse of my research project of last year. It slipped in on some photos and social media postings. But I haven’t had the possibility to write too much about it earlier. The reason? Like … Continue reading →

Posted in Cythara, Events, Guitar Plans, Lectures, Living history, Lute, Music, Projects, Re-enactment, Research, Uncategorized, Woodworking, Year of the Psalter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A new, updated Sutton Hoo lyre

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

Let’s go back in history… To long forgotten times, when life was simple. Times of dreams, of joy and laughter with large gatherings of people. When social distancing was something you only did with weird relatives. The times of free … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar Plans, Living history, lyre, Projects, Research, Think different, Uncategorized, Woodworking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Voboam: Guitars fit for a king

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

It’s probably the most well known name when it comes to baroque guitars: Voboam. Rather than a single maker, there is a whole dynasty of luthiers, spanning almost a century. It started with pater familias René Voboam, whose 1641 guitar … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar, Guitar Plans, History, Research, Think different, Uncategorized, Woodworking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 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 →

Posted in Books, Living history, lyre, Research, Woodworking | 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

“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