A list of plans, most of which are ready for dispatch.
If you wish to purchase plans, please consult the ‘Gallery’ to identify the instrument(s) of your choice, then go to the ‘Order plans' page and fill in the required information. Please include your full name and terrestrial address.
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Plans are rolled and dispatched in a strong poster tube together with notes of guidance wherever relevant.
Some plans are larger than others; some have more than one sheet, hence prices differ, but all include postage and packing in a strong tube to anywhere in the UK.
Prices for locations outside the UK will be quoted by return email if requested.
Plans are based either on originals or on iconographical evidence sourced from historical references. Whilst absolute authenticity is not claimed, the aim is to provide representations that have the convincing appearance and characteristic features of the instruments concerned. A priority is to ensure that they will be ‘playable’ and suitable for the performance of the repertoire composed for the instrument.
Photographs of finished instruments are available at a small extra charge
A new design based on an early original often requires alteration such as a change of materials from rare or expensive ones, to those more readily available from well-managed sources.
An obvious instance is where ivory has been used in the original decoration; modification in this case might be to use a plastic alternative, some types of which are very convincing in function and appearance. Sometimes it is sensible to reduce, or even remove, un-necessary decoration that might take excessive time in the production process and could be detrimental to acoustic properties.
Zachary does not use the word ‘copy’, but calls his designs ‘representations’.
Production of a true copy might be regarded as impossible anyway, since woods used may be similar but not identical. What is more, with new techniques and a grasp of acoustic science it is conceivable that the new instrument may be as good as, perhaps even better than, the original on which it was based. The word ‘better’, being largely subjective, is difficult to qualify, but an attempt is made in ‘Acoustic axioms’.
The objective is to provide either beginners, or the less wealthy, with instruments that emulate originals, sufficiently to allow the player to experience a sense of the original in terms of its playability and tone production.
Sometimes the question is asked, ’how did the original sound?’. Especially this may apply if the subject is an instrument no longer in existence, or is not available in a playing condition, such as a vihuela or ancient lyre. Obviously, nobody knows, but a carefully constructed representation is likely to perform similarly to the original, provided all available and relevant data is collected and applied faithfully. In any case, take any two instruments produced by a similar process, whether mass-produced in a factory, or by hand in an un-mechanised workshop and they are likely to differ slightly in terms of tone, volume and playability. After all, the nature of the basic raw material being wood, excludes the probability of finding two identically matching components.
Having taught the subject of lutherie to many amateur craftsmen in colleges and universities, Zachary appreciates the importance of simplification and accessibility of the subject combined with the fundamentals of sound craftsmanship aimed at producing high-quality instruments.
There are grim zealots who miss the point and say that such an enterprise affects adversely the dedicated small workshop that struggles to survive by producing one-off examples to commission. Zachary honours and admires these skilled artisans, but often their products are offered at prices that exceed that of a small motorcar. Many of Zachary’s designs are available from music stores at less than the cost of a set of tyres.
Zachary does not operate a service to supply instruments. Occasionally he will offer a few instruments from his collection (to create space!) and these will be made available from this site. Most of the instruments of his designs in current production from various foreign workshops are available from his client, Mid-East Mfg., who distribute to North and South America. (See link)
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Plans