Bass archlute related to the theorbo instrument of the western lute family with stopped courses considerably longer than those of a lute. Separate nut and pegbox for a set of longer, unstopped bass strings. Pegbox for the stopped strings is nearly aligned with the neck. Upper end of the pegbox extends to an additional pegbox for additional bass strings. This extension is of the same piece of wood as the first pegbox, and the bass strings are kept from crossing the stopped courses by setting the extensions at a slight angle off centre. Italian names 'chitarrone' and 'tiorba' were used synonymously for the same instrument. Probably Italian.