David E Fitzpatrick Lutes and Guitars

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Ionia, MI
David E Fitzpatrick Lutes and Guitars

Michigan luthier specializing in fine, hand-crafted instruments, using the finest materials available. We all bring something unique to our work.

Our unique experiences enable us to formulate our own solutions to the many and diverse challenges involved in building a fine instrument. As a conservatory trained musician, with nearly 30 years of professional woodworking experience, I bring my own perspective to building historically sound lutes and guitars. It is a great design, terrific wood, and careful exacting joinery that leads to a super

ior instrument. I strive to put everything I know in to building an instrument that is very responsive and expressive, that is a joy to play, and a delight to look at. Please contact me to discuss your ideas for a fine new instrument.

01/18/2026

This is to be my new shop space. More room and more light. It will happen over the next few months, meanwhile I continue to work in my old shop completing a couple 10/11 course lutes. Stay tuned! By the way, there is a pretty nice house going up above this shop…..

01/02/2023

A recently completed 6-c lute. Uncluttered, elegant design. It really works. The sound literally pops out! Great volume and this model matures really well. A great first, or second, or third lute.

12/01/2022

I would like to add to my post on the Richard Fletcher conversion. Don’t get me wrong, I love building lutes. But there seem to be a lot of good 10-c lutes out there that can be bought quite reasonably. It may be your avenue to a more affordable Baroque lute.

11/29/2022

This fine old lute started life as a 9-c lute by Richard Fletcher in 1976. It experienced some tough times going through a neck re-set and some top repair. But when my client came across it he saw potential: A very good, large Maple bowl and a fine Spruce top. Not really playable yet, but everything can be fixed. And he was looking for an 11-c lute; this could be it. There was a lot of quality to work with so a new neck, pegbox, a few pegs were made. Also, a new bridge was made and the barring was adjusted to a new purpose. All the work paid off resulting in a great playing, great sounding lute. This 46 year old lute can now look forward to another generation or three of music making.

08/26/2021

Here are a couple “Essential “ lutes completed earlier this year. A 7-c with Ash ribs and an 8-c with Maple ribs. Based on Dieffoprucher models, they have proven themselves a very successful design. Great sound and very comfortable to play. So far I’ve built them with string lengths ranging from 59cm to 63cm.

03/29/2020

This is a Renaissance guitar I recently completed and offer for sale. The top is Swiss Alpine Spruce, sides and back are figured Silver Maple. Bright sound, very responsive and surprisingly loud. Comes with a case.

09/01/2019

A recent model after Dieffoprucher. Sweet, clear, but wonderfully robust as well. A very quick speaking lute that attests to the enduring popularity of this design.

05/28/2019

This is a 6-c lute based on Venere models. Alpine Spruce top with yew ribs. The yew imparts a distinctive sound. It seems to have been the preferred wood for ribs for the Venere association for many years. I have made this model with Maple as well and it is a wonderful sound. But there is a quality unique to yew...

04/02/2019

Another 11-c Pocht/Edlinger being completed. Love this design. Very powerful sound but very beautiful. Lots of character.

01/27/2019

I just completed this 8-c lute. It is after Venere models, 63cm string length, Swiss Alpine top and Michigan Silver Maple ribs. The trebles fairly “pop” as Alpine usually does and the bass is very strong and firm. Really gratifying is the strength and presence of the midrange. My favorite lutes have been very balanced top to bottom and this promises to be one of those. This design owes some to a lute by Stephen Murphy that came through the shop a year and a half ago for some minor work. A most impressive instrument. I am looking forward to building a couple more that are commissioned; next will be a 6-c and after that a 7-c. But for now I’m focused on another 11-c Pocht/Edlinger. That is another great design that I enjoy building.

11/18/2018

It is finished. It is done. It is delivered. It is now becoming. Stradivari had his own take on guitars and, though there are fancier guitars, I love the simplicity and the beautiful lines of this one. The Alpine Spruce is very stiff and won’t quickly yield to its new purpose as a subtle, responsive tool for musical expression but it is showing us glimmers of what is to come. I am grateful and humbled to be able to work in this endeavor.

10/16/2018

Stradivari 1700, the “Rawlins”. It is “in the white” and, though not up to tension, promises a very full sounding range. Now to finish.

Address

4247 40 Acre Town Road
Ionia, MI
48846

Website

http://www.davidefitzpatrick.com/

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