SAXON ROTTE
The Middle-German name for this instrument. The rotte was one of the most popular and widely-used plucked instruments in north-western Europe from pre-Christian to medieval times, and is a descendant of the ancient lyre from western Asia and Egypt.
Based on the Sutton Hoo lyre in the Bristish Museum, London. The body arms and yolk are cut from one piece of wood (oak in our version) that are straight sided with with no waist. The resonating space is hollowed out, extending part way up the arms. the ceder soundboard is about 2mm thick and bronze pins are used to secure it to the body as well as glue. There are no soundholes. It has boxwood tuning pegs, a bone bridge, a fruitwood tailpiece and six gut strings.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 740mm
Maximum width: 205mm
Depth: 27mm
String length: 580mm
Tuning: Variable in pentatonic scale