What are the different parts of a lute?
The back or bowl of the lute is made up of staves or ribs that are often sandwiched between thin wooden strips called spacers. The ribs and spacers are usually of contrasting colors. An extra piece of wood, similar to an additional rib, is wrapped around the bottom edge of the bowl. This end clasp helps to support the bowl at the termination of the rib tips. Also on the bottom end of the bowl, a thicker piece of bent spruce called the counter cap is glued on the inside lower rim, opposite the end clasp. The counter cap makes the bowl stronger and offers a larger gluing surface for the soundboard where string tension will exert pressure on the instrument. The ribs are given support on the other end of the bowl by being glued to the neck block, which is carved in curved facets to mate with the tapering ribs. The soundboard (or top or belly) is supported underneath with thin pieces of wood called bracing that run perpendicular to the grain lines of the top. At the lower end of the soundbo
