Just finished this lute for a friend. I mixed the styles of a seven course and a six course together to create a sort of hybrid style. Yew back, European spruce belly, holly, cocobolo and figured cherry for the veneers and fingerboard. bridge is plum with ebony veneer.
Wow, very nice! So it has 13 strings?
Yes, thirteen strings total to make 7 courses. Each “course” is treated as a single string. The courses are fretted together and plucked in unison. The sound created is richer than a single string.