Paul Shippey

Rosewood Cittern

European spruce, hand- carved top
Indian Rosewood back & sides (flat-back)

My Citterns feature carved, European spruce tops and Indian Rosewood backs and sides.
The carved top gives the instrument a solid, warm tone and the arching creates an increased down-pressure
of the strings on the bridge, which improves projection.
I select the finest grades of European spruce for the top, which I hand carve to an arch of graduated thickness. European spruce lends a richness to the sound with plenty of overtones adding character.
The standard scale length I offer is 614 mm, which would typically be tuned GCGCG, with a fingerboard width of 46mm at the nut. These dimensions can be customised to suit the individual player's preferences.

614 mm
340 mm
46 mm

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Ebony fingerboard, bridge and head facing
Brazilian mahogany neck
Rossette and purfling : Inlaid (handmade Shippey)
Adjustable truss rod
Gotoh mini enclosed tuners
Trapeze style tailpiece

Available with either natural or black- top finish: I finish these instruments with a high gloss lacquer, rubbing down by hand between coats to achieve a perfectly flat finish.