Eleven-string alto guitar
Encyclopedia
The eleven-string alto guitar or altgitarr is an extended-range classical guitar developed by Swedish luthier
Georg Bolin in the 1960s.
Original Bolin instruments are now rare and valuable. The Bolin alto guitar most often has eleven strings, but a thirteen-string version also exists.
They are most often used for performance of lute
music, particularly Bach
.
In the United States, luthier Walter Stanul makes performance instruments ranging from 11 to 13-strings called the Archguitar. http://www.archguitar.com
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
Georg Bolin in the 1960s.
Original Bolin instruments are now rare and valuable. The Bolin alto guitar most often has eleven strings, but a thirteen-string version also exists.
They are most often used for performance of lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
music, particularly Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
.
In the United States, luthier Walter Stanul makes performance instruments ranging from 11 to 13-strings called the Archguitar. http://www.archguitar.com
Makers
- Georg Bolin
- Roger Strömberg
- AsturiasAsturiasThe Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
- Bartolex
Performers
- John Francis
- Stefan Östersjö
- Göran SöllscherGöran SöllscherGöran Söllscher is a Swedish award-winning virtuoso classical guitarist known for his broad range of musical interpretations, ranging from Bach to the Beatles...
See also
- Extended-range classical guitar#11-string guitar
- Alto guitar
External links
- altoguitar.com, site dedicated to the Bolin altgitarr.
- http://www.rogerstromberg.se, Alto guitars
- Altgitarr Links.
- John Francis web page.
- Stefan Östersjö web page.
- User description of their Bolin pattern alto guitar.
- http://www.archguitar.com Peter Blanchette, 11-string archguitar