Ottavino Spinet & Ottavino Spinet Kit

[more about the Ottavino Spinet]

Ottavino Spinet

Es: Espinetas, Fr: Épinette, It: Arcispinetta, Ottavino



	Ottavino Spinet with an outer decorated box (V&A museum)

Spinets have always been a popular keyboard instrument possibly due to their attractive shape but more probably because they only require about six feet of wall space (a harpsichord needs extra for the player's chair).

A spinet will fit in almost any room and is ideal for domestic practice and accompaniment.

Octave spinets were portable keyboard instruments, widely used in private homes in Italy throughout the 17th and 18th centuries to accompany singing.

RWC Ottavino Spinet


	Finished & Kit RWC Ottavino Spinet

The Renaissance Workshop Company produces two completely different spinets: The 4' Ottavino Spinet and the 8' English Bentside Spinet.

Our 4' Ottavino Spinet is based on a true small spinet of Italian form, dated around 1595, now in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The museum allowed us to make a close inspection of the original instrument from which we prepared detailed working drawings. At less than 70cm (2 feet) in length and weighing only 5kg the Ottavino must be the original 'portable early keyboard' and has proved to be a very popular travelling companion for recorder and viol players. The pitch, at 4', is an octave higher than larger 8' instruments and has a short bottom octave to keep within its compact size.

We use the best materials for the finished Ottavino Spinet. The inner casework is plantation grown mahogany with all the mouldings cut exactly as the original. The soundboard is planked from selected Swiss pine and the wrest pins and other hardware are of an historic pattern. The jacks are made from beech with holly tongues and have traditional hogs bristle springs. Both jacks and keys are weighted with the latter guided in a traditional slotted register. An attractive gold design is applied to the keywell to compliment the nymphs at either end. Strung in soft iron and brass.

Disposition: Single manual. 45 notes. Pitch: 4', C/E - c''' (short bottom octave). Size: length 68cm, width 41cm, depth 10cm. Weight: 5kg (without carrying case), 9kg (including carrying case)

Each instrument is entirely hand built by 'in-house' experienced craftsmen to special order in our own workshops in Toledo (Spain) to the highest standard of craftsmanship. They come with 12 months warranty and 12 months free access to our 'helpline' for advice on setting up, playing and maintenance.

A lightweight carrying case is available as optional extra if required.

Ottavino Spinet Kit


	Detail of the nymphs and gold decoration in the RWC Ottavino Spinet

The same instruments are offered in kit form for home assembly. Our Spinet Kits build into ones of the finest instruments we have produced to date.

As in the finished, only the highest quality materials are used throughout.

The price includes the license to build one instrument for private use and 12 months free access to our 'helpline' for advice on construction, setting up, playing and maintenance.

To ensure success, even for the first time builder, each kit includes:
A fully dimensioned life-size drawing and working template,
A manual with clear and concise step-by-step full assembly instructions.
A set of photographs illustrating further each stage.


	Detail of the nymphs and gold decoration in the RWC Ottavino Spinet

The Renaissance Workshop Company's 4' Ottavino Spinet Kit provides the perfect introduction for anyone wanting to learn about making keyboard instruments.

Time of construction: around 150 hours. Degree of difficulty: Quite Challenging.

Only the best materials are used. The inner casework is mahogany with all the mouldings cut exactly as the original. The soundboard is prepared from selected spruce and the wrest pins and other hardware are of an historic pattern. The jack bodies are cut to size and shape from beech with holly tongues and hogs bristle springs. Both jacks and keys have to be fitted with the lead weight provided. Also included in the kit are the materials for the production of an Italian rose.

A unique gold transfer sheet for the keywell decoration especially produced for Renaissance Workshop Company, based on the artwork of the original instrument is available upon request at extra cost. This really sets the instrument apart and is exceptionally easy to apply. It even provides the initials for any builder to be included in a modest oval in the centre of the design.

An outer lightweight carrying case is available as an optional extra and if ordered with the kit is used for packing the parts.

Ottavino Spinet Technical Plan


	Finished & Kit RWC Ottavino Spinet

You can make the same Ottavino Spinet from scratch, following detailed step-by-step instructions through the construction process in a clear and concise manner.

A fully dimensioned life-size drawing with templates and a set of photographs illustrate each stage.

The price includes the license to build one instrument for private use and 12 months free access to our 'helpline' for advice on construction, setting up, playing and maintenance.

This icon indicates that you can choose between the hard copy of the documents sent by postal mail, or the downloadable electronic files, in pdf format to your computer. In order to view and print the pdf files, you need the free 'Acrobat Reader' program installed in your computer. Life-size drawings require large printers. Electronic documents have a reduced price, don't have shipping costs, but are non-refundable.

Ottavino Spinet Accessories and Spare Parts


	Original Ottavino Spinet with an outer decorated box, in the V&A museum (London)

The Maintenance Kit allows you to have at hand some of the most needed parts to fix your instrument.

We provide lead-weighted jacks for our instruments. They are made from beech with holly tongues and have traditional hogs bristle springs.

Lead wire to counterbalance keys and add weight to jacks.

Ottavino Spinet Availability and delivery time

Not all of the items listed on our site are available immediately. Products without a reference nor a price are rarely available for quick dispatch. If you are interested in them, please contact us.

We publish standard availability, which means that this product usually ships in that time since it has been ordered. But at the specific time of your order, that interval can be longer or smaller depending on many production factors. In addition, you still will have to wait for your product to arrive (delivery time). [More info about availability & delivery dates]

	Finished Instrument		Three months
	Kit		Three weeks
	Drawing		Three days