Our Descant Lute is a beautiful short necked lute that has a bowl back of lacewood staves. There are eight tied nylon frets on a lacewood neck that features a rosewood fret board. The peg box is lacewood with tuners of rosewood. The soundboard is made of European spruce with a rosewood bridge and rosewood end pin. It has 13 nylon strings in 7 courses with a scale length of 19.75" (500mm). The European lute is featured in instrumental music from the early Renaissance to the late Baroque periods. It"s early origins are vague, but it"s common ancestor is the Egyptian oud. There is evidence of the lute in Europe as early as the 12th century, but it really became popular in the 15th century, falling out of use around 1800. The lute enjoyed a revival with the early music movement of the twentieth century, and has grown in popularity. Special Note: The strings put on the instruments in our workshops, while playable, are put through some rigorous testing. They should probably be replaced for improved playability, sound quality, and better tuning shortly after you receive the instrument. For your convenience we offer Roosebeck Lute Strings in a 7 course set, and you can order them here.