VIHUELA
A 6-course instrument of the narrow type in relation to its length. It is flat-backed, slightly waisted and has very shallow ribs of 72mm depth that do not taper. The ribs and back are in rosewood. There are 10 moveable gut frets on a fingerboard that is flush with the sitka spruce belly. Only plain gut strings are used and they are tuned in unison throughout the courses. The bridge is a narrow bar glued to the belly. It has a parchment rose. The arm is spliced with alternating coloured bands of hardwood for strength.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 802mm
Maximum width: 177mm
String length: 620mm
Tunings: published by Juan Bermudo in
1549 and 1555 A d g b e' a' or G c f a d' g'