Tag Archives: Luthierlife

New plans! A 19th C. Stauffer-style guitar by Ries

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

One of the perks of my job is that people bring in unusual and interesting instruments to work on. Some of them are so interesting that I document them to share with others in the form of building plans. A … Continue reading →

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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

To hang our Lyres up to the Willows…

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

“By the waters of Babylon,     there we sat down and wept,     when we remembered Zion. On the willows there     we hung up our lyres.” Psalm 137:1-2 (ESV) o you probably have heard these verses? They are fairly well known. The people … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Living history, lyre, Music, Projects, Re-enactment, Research, Think different, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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The Ace of Spades

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

If you like to gamble, I tell you I’m your man, You win some, lose some, it’s all the same to me, The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say, I don’t share your greed, the only … Continue reading →

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The Trossingen Lyre Project

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

An introduction to the Trossingen Lyre Project. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, lyre, Music, Projects, Re-enactment, Research, Think different, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Woodworking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Printing for Copernicus

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

About a week ago my friends of The Paper Unicorn asked me whether I would like to bring out the Minion Press, for the official opening of an exhibition about Copernicus. Location? The St. Walburgis church in Zutphen… Where did … Continue reading →

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FREE Vihuela plans!

Posted on August 2, 2018 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

Yes you read it correctly. As a summer surprise I’m giving away one of my plans for free… A year ago some of my students at the Bouwerskontakt lutherie course asked whether they could make some historical instruments. A baroque … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar, Guitar Plans, Lute, Music, Projects, Research, Uncategorized, Woodworking, Workshop | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments