Frequently Asked Questions

Q) What is a lutar?

A) A lutar or stave-back guitar is a hybrid combination of lute and guitar, designed to take advantage of the best features of each instrument.

Q) How does the different body shape of a lutar differentiate its sound from that of a classical guitar?

A) The lutar or stave-back guitar is noteworthy for: significantly more power and volume, enhancing the instrument's dynamic range; excellent projection and well-balanced tone; superior clarity and note separation; excellent sustainment and 'ring'; broader spectrum of auditory colors, tones and textures; enhanced responsivity, reacting to the lightest touch; rich, beautiful sound with powerful basses and brilliant trebles.

Q) How much does a lutar cost?

A) I am retired. I create these instruments for my amusement, not for a business. Consequently, I have given some away, I have bartered for others, and have also sold them. Prices start at $3,000.

Q) Where can I purchase a lutar?

A) Since I am probably the only luthier creating these instruments, your best chance for purchasing one would be from me, Carl Samuels.

Q) What types of music would be enhanced by the sound of a lutar?

A)I have made classical and flamenco lutars. In my opinion, which is shared by players and owners, the resulting music is an improvement over that produced by more traditional instruments.

Q) What types of wood are lutars made from?

A) I have made lutar soundboxes of East Indian rosewood, quilted maple, cocobolo, and rosewood from Nicaragua. Soundboards (tops) have included Sitka spruce, German silver spruce, and Carpathian spruce. In short, the woods used for my instruments are pretty much the same woods used for traditional classical and flamenco guitars.

Q) Do you make steel string lutars?

A) No, I do not make any steel stringed instruments. But I may....