Zachary Taylor  |  Roosebeck™ Signature Artist Series

Zachary Taylor is a designer and maker of early stringed instruments. Early in his career as a performer on classical guitar and lute, he began to study the creation of representations of early instruments. For more than a quarter of a century he has taught the subject of lutherie.

We are proud to announce our new line of Zachary Taylor designed stringed instruments - beautifully designed Lutes, Guitars, and a Balladeer Harp.

The Lute Guitar is similar in size to a guitar but with a body like a lute. With a neck shaped like that of a guitar and a nut of ebony, it will appeal to those who are familiar with normal classical or acoustic guitars. It is tuned like a guitar with six strings, three of plain nylon and three of nylon wound in nickel. If it is to be used for lute music, the 3rd string may be tuned a semi-tone down to F# to enable the application of lute fingering. Spruce is used for the unpolished soundboard just like original lutes and its soundhole has a carved rose in an attractive geometric pattern. In keeping with the lute, the characteristically bowl shaped body is achieved by custom fitting slats of thin wood bent to a specific shape with no internal structure to retain its form.