History and Development

Guitarist Per-Olof Johnson had always been interested in early music. After having
specialised in repertoire knowledge and period interpretation both in Vienna and
Basel he came to a point where he had to decide whether to keep playing the guitar
or switch to exclusively play the lute. The difference between the two instruments -
predominantly, right hand technique - was difficult to bridge and he didn't feel
comfortable to maintain both. Despite his love for carly musiche decided that he
couldn't entirely give up the guitar. Here his scratch begun. He needed an instrument
which he could play using his existing technique but with the extended range that
would allow for playing pieces written for lute without the need for arrangements and
transcriptions. He already knew of George bolin, a fine instrument maker in
Stockholm, and approached him for advice.