About the Medieval Lute
A light, simplified lute inspired by medieval and Renaissance instruments. It's playable and needs no woodworking. Everything is printed: the body (in three sections, glued together), the nut, the bridge and the tuning pegs. The pegs are friction-fit and hammered in, so print a few spares in case one breaks. Because plastic pegs have less friction than wood, they may need frequent retuning.
The designer tuned it to a C major scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B) while admitting to never having played a lute, and suggests better tunings likely exist. At 51 cm tall it suits both children and adults, and it makes a light, convincing prop for medieval or fantasy costumes. Wood-coloured or dark filament gives the most authentic look.
What you'll need
Printed parts
- Body in 3 sections
- Neck, nut and bridge
- 7 tuning pegs, plus spares
Bought parts
- 7 lute or harp strings
Tools
- Glue
- A small hammer (for the pegs)
Photos
More of the designer's photos are on MakerWorld. See them on MakerWorld ↗