My first lute - bought around 1965 - was a factory made (German, I think) instrument. It had a molded plastic rose inset into the top, a guitar style bridge and metal frets. Spruce, maple and rosewood, as I remember, were the woods used. Neddless to say, a rather heavy instrument designed for heavy strings. We surely don't need instruments like that any more, but I imagine a factory could turn out more light-weight, historical style, instruments also.
But for me - returning to this instrument from the cello - I consider lutes cheap. The two local violin makers that build cellos were asking $12,000 to $15,000 for one of their cellos ten years ago. The luthier who made one of the lutes I bought used for $2400 was asking $25,000 for his violins several years ago. To be able to get a professional quality instrument for $3000 or less (Dan Larson, for one example) is - I think - a bargain. I would add that it has been said - and I agree - a beginning player really should try to get as good an instrument as possible. A properly set up, easy to play, good sounding, reliable instrument will help to encourage his/her efforts. Conversely, a poor quality instrument could well discourage those efforts. Ned -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
