Chiara Frisio - 2025 8 course renaissance lute (Hieber 8c)
Chiara Frisio - 2025 8 course renaissance lute (Hieber 8c)
Details
Details
Overview
Overview
Shipping important note
Shipping important note
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Details about GPSR
Details about GPSR
Video overview
More details about the guitar
About the luthier
Chiara Frisio is a Milanese luthier with a background rooted in both music and craftsmanship. After completing her secondary studies, she enrolled at the Civica Scuola di Liuteria di Milano, where she studied under renowned teachers including Roberto de Miranda, Silvia Zanchi, Ivan Bruna, and Bob Van de Kerkchove. Upon graduation as Maestro Liutaio, she deepened her practical experience through years of work in the workshop of Lorenzo Lippi. Her approach to instrument making is shaped by this lineage, and by her dedication to playability, precision, sound quality, and aesthetic refinement. Her work spans classical guitars, early music instruments, and mandolins, continuing a tradition of broad-based lutherie grounded in both historical study and contemporary craft.
About the lute
This 8-course lute, built in 2025, is modelled after a late 16th-century instrument by Giovanni Hieber, originally conceived as a 7-course lute around 1580. Frisio’s adaptation preserves the characteristic rounded body of the historical model while ensuring balance between sonic richness and ergonomic handling. The soundboard is made from Val di Fiemme spruce, chosen for its tonal sensitivity and clarity. A delicately carved rosette in the style of Tieffenbrucker complements the instrument’s visual elegance.
The ribs are made of flamed maple, a light and highly responsive tonewood, fitted with ebony spacers that contribute both structural integrity and visual contrast. The neck is crafted from American walnut, and both the neck and the ebony fingerboard are finished with linen oil, offering a smooth and natural feel. The bowl is treated with a traditional oil and amber varnish that brings out the depth and texture of the wood. A ground coat of shellac followed by a thin layer of linen oil seals the spruce top, lending it a warm, natural sheen while protecting the surface.
With a scale length of 585 mm and a nut width of 63 mm, the lute is tuned to G, D, A, F, C, G, F, E. It is strung with Pyramid PVF trebles and silver-wound basses, with gut frets up to the body and ebony frets beyond. The air body resonance lies around C, supporting a full and focused response in the lower register. At just 750 grams, the instrument is extremely light and responsive. It is fitted with traditional wooden pegs and comes in a tailor-made soft case.
Regular care extends the life of the instrument
Even with careful use, a classical guitar may gradually change in appearance or respond to unstable storage conditions. Have a close look at your guitar regularly and be attentif to changes. If your instrument is suffering from its environement, it will let you know.
Protect Your Guitar: Handle with Care
Be mindful when touching your instrument with greasy or unwashed hands: any skin contact is a small attack on the varnish. Of course, a guitar is made to be played, but taking a few precautions helps preserve its beauty: wash your hands before playing, wear long sleeves, and avoid unnecessary direct skin contact with the body of the instrument.
Pro tip: Avoid playing with a button-up shirt, heavy jewelry, or a belt, as these can scratch the guitar. Also, make sure your guitar case is free of any objects that could damage the instrument during storage.
String care
A good habit to adopt is wiping down your strings briefly after each playing session. This small action significantly extends their lifespan and helps maintain a consistent, comfortable feel under your fingers.
Most importantly, clean strings are essential for keeping your instrument in tune. Corrosion, sweat, and dust can affect the uniformity of the strings and interfere with accurate tuning across the entire fingerboard.
Pro tip: If you're having trouble getting your guitar in tune, it might be time to change the strings. A useful test is to compare the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note at the 12th fret; if there's an unusually large gap between them, your strings may have lost their integrity and should be replaced.
Keep Your Shellac Finish Shining!
Got a guitar with a shellac (French polish) finish? Here's a simple trick: Take a clean microfiber cloth and gently breathe on the surface to create a light mist. Then, softly rub to remove fingerprints, sweat, and grease. That’s usually all it takes to keep it looking great, no products needed!
Pro tip: Every few years, treat your guitar to a check-up with a luthier to keep it in top shape.
Storing Your Guitar: Climate Matters
Your guitar can safely stay outside its case, as long as the surrounding environment maintains 42–55% humidity and a temperature between 18–25°C.
Keep in mind that humidity levels can still fluctuate inside the case, especially during seasonal changes.
- Too much humidity may cause overtightened strings and a dull tone.
- Too little humidity can lead to a bulging top, string buzz, or even cracks.
Avoid placing your guitar near radiators, air conditioners, or windows with direct sunlight.
Pro tip: Always close your guitar case while playing. This helps preserve a stable microclimate inside the case, so your instrument is protected the moment you put it back in.