A difficult one, Jim. Most lutes are built to order for a customer - unfortunate because the customer doesn't get a chance to try it before committing to buy it!
There are, however, some off-the-peg lutes available. Closest to your price range are the lutes built (in Pakistan??) for the Early Music Shop in England [1]http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000655-ems-8-cours e-renaissance-lute I have recently seen and tried one of these and found it to play very well. I don't know if similar lutes are available in the US but would be surprised if they aren't. The other possibility is the second-hand market, but you're in the lap of the gods, there. Good luck in your quest! Bill From: Jim Ammeson <jimastr...@yahoo.com> To: "lute@cs.dartmouth.edu" <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Tuesday, 31 July 2012, 17:31 Subject: [LUTE] My First Lute So, I've been considering buying a lute for a few years now, but I've had trouble finding places I can really try playing one or many people I can talk to about them. (Lutes are a bit of a niche thing, I know.) A lutenist at the local renaissance faire suggested this list, so I thought I'd post. So, I'll just explain my situation, right now: I've been playing classical guitar for about 5 years. I play lots of baroque and renaissance music, love the stuff. I'd really like to try playing a lute or two before deciding if I want to make the investment in buying one. As of right now, I don't have much over $500 to spend (I know that's not probably enough for one that's really worth having, unless I get a good price on a used one or something), but I'm *willing* to spend more, just don't have it *now*. (I'm a college student, nuff said?) I live in the Chicago area, and have asked around if there's anyplace in the area whatsoever that makes lutes, and have tried looking online, but haven't found anything. I've asked around at renaissance faires, as well, and, again, just was directed here by one lutenist. So, any advice as to what a beginning lutenist should do? Where to go to try a lute for the first time and see if it is really something for him? I've been thinking an 8 course lute would be good for the pieces I play to play...Bach and Dowland and the like? Any general advice is also appreciated. -Jim -- To get on or off this list see list information at [2]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000655-ems-8-course-renaissance-lute 2. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
