Prittlewell Lyre
The Prittlewell Lyre was discovered in a royal burial chambere dated to around C.580, with other grave goods, featured on a Channel 4 Time Team documentary, encased in a block of soil were the remains of a lyre, indentified from its circular decorative mounts. Lyres from this early period were are mostly 6 string instruments usually, creates a versatile instrument musically without retuning that can play melodically with both hands sounding great playing like a harp as well as the usual block and chord strumming.
Hollowed from a solid plank of maple construction are my standard option with a choice of soundboards from traditional maple, this is the loudest option and has the best projection for the Mead hall. Maple is a bright sounding instrument but matures over time to a full sound.
For replicas the only option is maple wood throughout as the original, with Spruce and Cedar tops also an option for non replica modern versions. Cedar is very dark and warm sounding, mature from day one and needs little playing in but a softer wood,
Torrified Spruce is another option to give a more played-in sound sooner, brighter with more nuance than Cedar, harder than cedar.
Student model instruments are also an option when available in a variety of finish options, either hollowed from Aspen or poplar or by assembling pieces hand bent from solid wood and glued in a mould.
Plans are available on my Lyre making Download and upcoming book with lots of useful information if you wish to build your own one of these, see my download page or the video here:
For a warmer sound and natural dark hardwoods can make custom models in Walnut and Cedar, Poplar wood or Spruce and Cedar can also provide a warmer tone with my Kravik Lyre set of strings. Maple and oak is a more standard option available as well for a bright sound. other woods on request, see my etsy shop for latest options.
Sheet music of my 7 String Lyre tune"Lyre Meditation no.1) available in print on Amazon
Please feel free to email if you have any questions about these.