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.

Lute

Chiara Frisio - 2025 8 course renaissance lute (Hieber 8c)