That might seem a little biased to some, but it's my catalog and I'll be biased if I wanna be. So there!

Anyway... Lutes were an Arabic instrument. The word lute is derived from the Arabic "," meaning "stringed instrument." There's that quintessential thing coming up again, so it's not just me.

The lute was first introduced to European ears with the conquering of Spain by the Moors, around 711 AD, which goes a ways as to explaining the famed skills of the Spanish Guitarists. The history of the instrument goes back far further, but with the Moorish invasion, the later Crusades, and the spread of trade, the lute was carried and then adopted throughout Europe.

The lute was the principle instrument of bards for centuries, up into the 1800s when it was eventually replaced by the guitar. At it's peak, it was primarily a six-string instrument. The most distinctive feature of the lute is it's almost ninety degree turned back tuning board of the neck.

Unfortunately, only two music shops currently craft lutes; True Bard D'Or's Fine Instruments, located in central Crossing, Zoluren, and The House of Bardic Blues of central RiverHaven, Therengia.

Lutes currently have the following options for customization: