Cittern Makers and Suppliers
The following is a list of makers involved in the reproduction of historical string instruments who are known to make citterns. The intent is to list makers who specifically work with making citterns and other instruments from the metal-strung plucked instrument family (e.g. bandoras, orpharions, Cithrinchen, English guittars, metal-strung theorboes, etc.), though in most cases they also make other instruments as well (lutes, guitars, etc.). The listing is divided alphabetically. Those interested in purchasing an instrument should contact the luthiers directly and ask questions about the types of instruments they make, price lists, current availability, length of their waiting list, whether one can actually examine an instrument they've made, whether they know of used instruments for sale, and so on.
Please note: This list was compiled from information provided by subscribers to previous lute and cittern discussion lists in addition to references sent to me personally. The listing of a maker or supplier here is not a recommendation, endorsement or guarantee of quality. It is provided solely as a courtesy to those looking for information. As in all things, caveat emptor.
For additions and corrections to this list, please contact me.
Makers of Citterns & Other Wire-Strung Historical Instruments
Andrew Hartig
New and used instruments; instrument repair and restoration. Custom strings for period wire-strung instruments, specializing in twined-strings (see below).
Pacifica, CA 94044 USA
http://www.amhstrings.com
https://www.facebook.com/amhstringsArjen Everts
Ghent, Belgium
Tel: (+32) 476096072
evertsarjen at gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/arjen.evertsAndrew Rutherford
Maker of lutes, guitars & citterns.
324 Millers Corners Rd
East Greenbush, NY 12061
Tel: (917) 538-0373
luteworld at gmail.comBob Duffy
Maker of harpsichords, clavichords, & citterns. Instrument restoration and repair.
5718 Elaine Street
Speedway, IN 46224 USA
Tel: (317) 293-1055
https://www.robertduffyharpsichords.com/Bruce Brook
Maker of lutes, theorboes, baroque guitars, vihuelas, orpharions, bandoras, and pegs.
1 Highview Close
Windmill Hill
Herstmonceux
East Sussex, England, BN27 4TR
Tel: (+44) 01323 832979
http://www.brucebrook.co.ukCarlo Cecconi
https://www.facebook.com/liuteriacarlo.cecconi/Christian Magdeleine — LIUTERA
Maker of the specialized "Corsican cittern" (8 double courses)
6 rue Chanoine Bonerandi
20200 BASTIA - CORSICA
Tel/Fax: (+33) 4.95.31.78.99
http://www.liutera.com/Daniel Betsill
Betsillworkshop
Stone Mountain, GA USA
(404) 317-5462
http://www.betsillworkshop.comEdward (Edouard) Rusnak
Luths, citternes, orpharions, guitares, & harpes.
1475 rue Rachel
Montreal
Quebec H2J 2K3 CANADA
Tel: (514) 524-8251
valhalla at mtl.axxent.caGamut Music / Daniel Larson
1600 London Road
Duluth, Minnesota 55812 USA
Toll-free Tel/Fax in USA: (888) 724-8099
Outside the USA Tel/Fax: 01-218-724-8011
https://www.gamutmusic.com/George Stevens
Hand-crafted early musical instruments of the medieval, renaissance and baroque periods. (Visits strictly by appointment only.)
11 Ness Road
Lydd, Romney Marsh
Kent TN29 9DR UK
Tel (+44)01797 320 152
http://www.gstevensluthier.co.ukGesina Liedmeier
brugweg 127,
6882 MG Velp,
The Netherlands
Tel: 0031 (0) 6 482 76 726
http://www.liedmeier.nlGraham Macdonald
PO Box 365,
Jamison, ACT, 2614
Australia
Tel: 0402 026 962 +614 02 026 962
http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com
James Bisgood
Hill Cottage
The Street
Great Hockham
Norfolk UK
j.bisgood at argonet.co.ukJesús Reolid
Constructor de instrumentos musicales de cuerda (citterns, citoles, lutes, guitars, and other instruments).
La Posturilla 4,
28696 Pelayos de la Presa (Madrid) SPAIN
Tel: 687 59 60 41
https://www.jesusreolid.net/John Lucas
Sydney, Australia
Tel: 0432 231 670
https://johnlucasluthier.wixsite.com/john-lucasLudwig Friess Instrumentenbau
Marktplatz 27, A-4170 Haslach an der Mühl
Austria
Tel: 0043 (0) 7289 73070
https://www.ludwig-friess.at/Lyn Elder
Lutes, Viols, Early fiddles, Hurdy-gurdies, Gittern, Cittern, Sitole, Psalteries, Miscellaneous Brass & Woodwinds
74 North Street
Bristol VT, 05443 USA
Tel: (802) 453-3625
lynelder08 at gmail.comNikos Apollonio
"Maker since 1962 of guitars, citterns, violins and viols, harps, mandolins and Irish bouzoukis."
68 Waterville Road
Belfast, Maine 04915 USA
Tel: (207) 218-1068
https://nikosapollonio.com/Peter Forrester [retired]
Maker of lutes, guitars, and citterns.
Sunflower House
Beechwood Avenue
Aylmerton
Norfolk NR11 8QQ UK
Tel: + 44 1263 837711
peterforrester at btinternet.comRenaissance Workshop Company, Ltd. / Masterkit
(Plans, kits, and fully built instruments)
Headquarters: c/ Viella 8. 28040 Madrid. Spain
Showroom: c/ Artesanía 4. Pol. Ind 'Las Atalayas'.
Crtra A-42 km 47. 45529 Yuncler (Toledo). Spain
Tel: (+34) 91 450 30 50
http://www.renwks.comSebastián Núñez & Verónica Estevez
Makers of early musical instruments, including lutes, vihuelas, early guitars & harpsichords. Specialized restorer of historical guitars.
Vlijtstraat 6-A
3513 SV Utrecht
Netherlands
Tel/Fax +31 30 8784614
http://www.earlymusicalinstruments.infoSteffen Milbradt & Caroline Zillman
Jahnstraße 1
01067 Dresden
Tel: 0174 / 6907461
Schlossergasse 1
01662 Meissen
Germany
Tel: 03521 / 402772 and 418179
http://www.saitenspiel-zeug.deSteve Hicks
UK
Mobile: 07855 820 722
Tel: 01509 620 853
luthimus at yahoo.co.ukUgo Casalonga
Maker of the specialized "Corsican cetera" (8 double courses), citterns, pandores, orpharions, ceterones, and other string instruments.
U Lavu, 20220 Pigna
Corse, France
Tel: (+33) 06 22 96 24 03
https://www.casa-liutaiu.com/
Suppliers of Strings and Other Materials
Andrew Hartig Custom Strings for Period Wire-Strung Instruments
Specializing in hand-twisted wire strings for cittern, bandora, orpharion, ceterone, cithrinchen, lautenzister, English guittar, guitharre allemande, Corsican cetera, chitarra battente, Neopolitan mandolin, clavichord, harpsichord, Irish harp, etc. Custom string set-ups and consulting.
Pacifica, CA 94044 USA
http://www.amhstrings.com
https://www.facebook.com/amhstringsArjen Everts (luthier)
In addition to instruments, Arjen also supplies twined brass strings for cittern, bandora, and orpharion.
Ghent, Belgium
Tel: (+32) 476096072
evertsarjen at gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/arjen.evertsBruce Brook (luthier)
In addition to instruments, Bruce also makes hand twisted high- and low-twist brass and iron strings for cittern, bandora, and orpharion.
1 Highview Close
Windmill Hill
Herstmonceux
East Sussex, England, BN27 4TR
Tel: 01323 832979
http://www.brucebrook.co.ukLe Point d'Accroche
Strings for cittern chitarra battente, lutes, oud, etc.
4, avenue de la Porte de Montmartre
75018 Paris, France
Tel/Fax: (0033) 01 42 52 65 82
http://www.lepointdaccroche.com
Music-Strings (was Matthias Wagner)
Caroline Zillmann / Steffen Millbradt
Distributor of Savarez, Aquila, Kuerschner, Pyramid, and Pirastro strings for lutes, viols, violins, harps, cittern and other historical instruments
Schlossergasse 1
D-01662 Meißen
Tel: +49(0)3521 / 402772
Fax: +49(0)3521 / 458048
https://www.music-strings.de/Northern Renaissance Instruments
Luke Challinor / Susan Challinor
12 Macclesfield Road
Hazel Grove
Stockport SK7 6BE UK
Tel: (+44) 07535877050
https://nristringshop.co.uk/Renaissance Workshop Company, Ltd. / Masterkit
(Plectrum and strings)
Headquarters: c/ Viella 8. 28040 Madrid. Spain
Showroom: c/ Artesanía 4. Pol. Ind 'Las Atalayas'.
Crtra A-42 km 47. 45529 Yuncler (Toledo). Spain
Tel: (+34) 91 450 30 50
http://www.renwks.com