Vielles and Violas da Gamba

Vielles are predecessors of violins. Ours are based on images of vielles on the altar paintings by Hans Memling at the Cathedral of Antwerp, Belgium.

The soprano and alto sizes are usually played in the arm, but can be fretted and played “da gamba”. The tenor vielle is too large for playing “da bracio” and is usualy provided with frets for playing “da gamba” style. All have a flat top and back, decorative inlays, a bass bar and sound post and are varnished and polished.

All models are constructed with a spruce sounding board, maple bridge, sides, back and neck, rosewood tailpiece and fingerboard, and rosewood, boxwood or ebony pegs.

15/16th Century Vielles made in our own workshop in Brasstown, North Carolina

• Four stringed
• Same size as a violin
• Gut strings tuned to:
  -g-,-d-,-a-,-d- or
  -g-,-d-,-a-,-e-
• Violin hard case included

• Four stringed
• Same size as a viola
• Gut strings tuned to:
  -c-,-g-,-d-,-a-
• Viola hard case included

• Five stringed
• Similar in size to a tenor viola da gamba
• Gut strings tuned to:
  -G-,-c-,-e-,-a-,-d-
• Custom made hard case available

We have a variety of Violas da Gamba, Rebecs, Vielles, Violins, Violas, Cellos, Basses, Bows, Cases and Accessories in our store.