In 2008, the Metropolitan Museum in New York invited me over to advise on the restoration of a lute by Pietro Railich, Padua, 1669, converted by Johannes Fichtl, Vienna, 1720 into an unusual form of 11c Baroque lute. It had an extended neck for the lowest 4 courses and 11 courses would anyway be a most unusual type for this time, but the extension appeared to be a convincing replacement in the style of the German Baroque swan-necked lutes.

Several of the ribs were detached from the block and various options were discussed to determine the rather complicated sequence of operations to restore it while retaining the correct playing action.