When I saw the thread on the 8-string production model, I had to post this.

The link at the bottom is a youtube video of luthier Michael Thames playing his "Dresden" model 13-string classical guitar. The idea for this guitar is that it is given as many strings as a 13-course baroque lute (without the double courses or pairs of strings, much like a modern 12-string acoustic guitar), and is tuned in the same manner. You will notice that there are strings that are not fretted. These are free ringing basses that are tuned diatonically to whatever the key of the piece you are playing is in. However, the "home" key is d minor (from first to last d-a-f-c-g-d-c-Bb-a-g-f-e-d).

Thames' guitar allows one to play baroque lute literature directly from the tablature, without having to transcribe anything. Despite the lack of double-courses, it still sounds rather lute-like.




The piece he is playing is the prelude of a lute sonata in d minor (not sure which number) by Sylvius Leopold Weiss (1686-1750).