How I Make An Anglo-Saxon Sutton Hoo Style Lyre

[@derwishrenegat743]

I love it when people restore such forgotten antiques and musical instruments. This is extremely interesting. Because mankind has been living on Earth for a long time, there are many useful and beautiful things that they created long ago.

[@Aussiesnrg]

That's awesome. Thanks for the video showing the work involved

[@couerl]

I made one too! Looks a lot like mine except I used black walnut on the tuning pegs and the tail piece is different. Lovely job!

[@tagladyify]

Beautiful.

[@robertanderson2370]

I made my first this year, after pouring over videos and articles. It was very reassuring to see that my methods turned out to be rather like yours. You've picked some gorgeous wood there. I'd love to see more of your work, and perhaps you might post a short melody once it has seasoned. Cheers!

[@robertanderson2370]

In answer to my own question kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWmbdKyGptSoi7c lol

[@hephzibagrace3456]

Looks great!!

[@Seagull780]

Was the main body beech or birch? The description says it's birch but then says the soundboard and fittings are also beech so I'm confused as to what it is. I'm really confused as to what wood makes a good lyre.

[@westsaxoninwales]

The body and head are both Birch with a beech soundboard. I'd use any hardwood (deciduous or broad leaf) timber BUT try and get quarter sawn if you can. Through sawn timber will work but you'll need to make the head separately like I have in the video or the head will crack when you drill the holes for the tuning pegs.

[@Seagull780]

@westsaxoninwales1551 Thanks! I'll probably be stubborn and try making it in one piece from through sawn timber since I can get it for free with a bit more labour. I'm expecting it to crack since you seem to know your stuff, but I can always fit a new headstock after it does.

[@eunac3037]

this is so cool! I was thinking of building a lyre for a graduation project and I was wondering why the more professional lyre-makers I find on the internet do the top of part seperately and add it on later. Is it easier to cut and shape that way? 2:12 and onwards reference as to what I'm talking about. Sorry for the bother.

[@westsaxoninwales]

So the reason for the head being separate to the body is due to how the board that the body comes from is sawn. I've found if the body comes from a "through sawn" board and the body and head are one piece the head will split when drilling for the tuning pegs, so you need to make the head separate and glue it on later. This isn't needed when the body is "quarter sawn" as the grain runs straight up the faces of the body.

[@eunac3037]

@@westsaxoninwales thank you!! I'll keep that in mind!

[@ГорецветВольгович]

Отличная работа

[@nicolasxilakis9274]

Hello, great Work, thanks a lot for sharing, for the inspirations! I was building a lyre, many years ago, based on the Trossing Lyre, made it from local cherry tree.... now i would like very much to build a Sutton Hoo style Lyre, maxbe with seven strings. The one you made here looks quit thick, the trossing lyre is about 2 cm thick. I think it is therefore, the Anglo-Saxon Lyre sounds a bit different. Would you mind sharing the length, width, thickness of this beautiful Instrument? I also have problems to find the right strings from Nylon for my Trossingen Lyre, maybe you can advice me something? Tank you... Greetings from Gmany

[@westsaxoninwales]

Hello, thank you for your kind words! I do tend to make my instruments a little thicker than most people. It all depends on the dimensions of the wood I can easily get hold of. The dimensions of the one in this video are: 660mm long 185mm/165mm wide 32mm thick I get my Flurocarbon strings from Michael J King, The Lyre Shop on Etsy, which I find to be very reliable and easy to play with. Hope this all helps 👍

[@nicolasxilakis9274]

Thank you very much😊yes, this IT really helps!! Thanks for your kindness....keep on

[@alexbarth7582]

That’s amazing, thank you for making this video ! Can I ask what kind of pin shaver and hole reamer you are using ? And where did you buy them? Thank you!

[@westsaxoninwales]

I got the reamer and peg tapering block off ebay as a set. Unfortunately they don't seem to be available any more.

[@bearshield7138]

you are quite the craftsman. Sweet job

[@measuretwicecutnice]

hey man, did i meet you in Axminister tools? if not you it was someone else but ever since I sore the lyre he or you made iv been really wanting to make one myself.

[@westsaxoninwales]

If it was the Cardiff store then quite possibly! There's a lot of info out there, hopefully this video helps!

[@dougmc332]

Nice build! I was wondering where you find your strings.

[@westsaxoninwales]

I get them from The Lyre Shop on Etsy.

[@friedfish69]

Where did you get the idea for a sound post?

[@westsaxoninwales]

I bought plans from Michael J King on Etsy, the plans say to use a sound post. Some people use them, some don't.

[@Gnomewoodworker]

Awesome build, but you went to all the trouble to build it authentic and then used para cord instead of something like sinew for the tail piece. Also its easier to just build them like a guitar and use a back board instead of al that routing to hollow the body of the lyre. fantastic build and I Subbed

[@friedfish69]

Using a back board ain't authentic.

[@Gnomewoodworker]

@@friedfish69 no , but makes the lyre more durable to warping

[@andrewwilson507]

Can you not mount the camera on the work bench next time please.

[@westsaxoninwales]

The phone I use to film is on a tripod which is sat on the bench. I've since moved house and have a larger workshop where I can place the tripod in more places and have a much more solid bench, so there shouldn't be so much wobbling in future videos.