This bass variant of the mandolin family was developed by the Neapolitan luthiers of the Vinaccia family in the late 19th century and perfected by Raffaele Calace.

[1] The scale of a modern Calace-manufactured liuto cantabile is 61 cm (24").

The instrument overlaps or is equivalent to the mandolone and mandocello.

A substantial catalog of solo liuto works have been composed, most notably by the mandolin virtuoso, composer and luthier Raffaele Calace, who championed the instrument.

This ensemble consists of mandolin I and II, mandola and liuto cantabile.