The book "The Lute in Europe 2" states that though the German Lute was
indeed played by Early Hippies (aka Wandervogel), it wasn't the
instrument taken into the wilderness. For that purpose, there was the
Wandervogel-Guitar (I think this is the "Klampfe" that inspired the
common word for cheap campfire guitars).
Due to the rib joints coming apart, I can say for sure that the ribs are
very thin like it would be expected in a real lute.
The soundboard is surely somewhat sturdier.
The only difference is the pins, the frets, and the peg action.
Strung with 0.45 Nylon on first course in G 415hz, it sounds much more
like my Ren. Lute, not a guitar. There's still one rib joint to glue
though before I dare to install the other strings.
I can take pictures if you are interested. I have also a later German
Lute, that is in better shape. It has a windowed peg box and no
flowerhead, probably a later model. Of this I know that it was played in
the 30s by the grandma of the guy from whom I bought it.
Personally, I doubt that the Lute shape was intended as an optical thing
for nostalgic purposes. The sound is different, and with gut strings
maybe even more. I have not heard any gut strung German Lute though.
I guess 430Hz would be a realistic setting?
According to Schlegel/Lütke, there seem to be even "real lutes" around
in the Early 20th century, built with traditional pegboxes and double
courses, by Hermann Hauser.
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