Dear Sean, I used gut double frets on my lutes for years - they do "buzz" a bit for the first few days but that stops when they are bedded down and after that they wear a lot longer and stay in position better than single strand frets. I find the double strand knot easier to tie and have less trouble with fitting them than I do the single strand variety. It may be worth mentioning that I never used the very thick gut for the lower frets that has been mentioned recently.
My guess is that makers don't like to present a new instrument to a customer with that new double strand fret buzz and so fit single strand frets as standard. It's a shame, because it seems to have created the impression among players that single strand frets were the historical norm and that double strand frets are an eccentric anomaly. In truth, in my opinion and as Martin suggests, it's more likely to be the other way around. Best wishes, Denys ----- Original Message ----- From: "lutesmith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2003 12:29 AM Subject: Re: fret diameters > > David, Gernot, > > I think we have the fine detail of Mr Holbein to thank ultimately. An > excellent visual ambassador from the period. > > I tried doubled frets a few years ago and 'almost' liked the results. I > managed to get them tight enough with pliers and I'm sure they had the > means then as well. Unfortunately I didn't like the buzzing. I was tempted > to sand down the nutward strand but afraid it would weaken the tension and > it would eventually slip. I would very much like to try the experiment > again. I imagine they'd last quite a while. > > Nigel North mentioned this summer that he often takes lutes to a certain > builder (whose name escapes me) in the UK to have doubled frets done just > right. > > Could anyone offer more tips? > > Sean > theaterofmusic.com > > > At 03:49 PM 10/18/03, you wrote: > >Dear Sean, > > > >Part at least of my thesis is unravelling faster than a gut top > >string! Gernot has just forwarded me your enlarged picture of the > >Ambassadors painting and I agree they are as double as can be! I'll > >take that picture down. > > > >I stand by most of my pictures but clearly such illustrations are not > >reliable unless we can get really good reproductions such as yours. > > > >I have put up a note about picture 6 which may also be double. I > >still think it is possible to read the original photo as showing a > >translucent single fret but I do agree it is also possible to see it > >as double. > > > >Best wishes, > > > >David > > > > > >At 2:06 PM -0700 18/10/03, lutesmith wrote: > > >Very interesting, David, thank you. > > > > > >Perhaps it's a coincidence but there are no tastini in this group either. > > >Is there any iconographic evidence for them?. Number 5 does seem to show a > > >canted first fret that would fit A#'s, D#'s and F#'s. (Of course, like #1 > > >it may only be a drafting error. The 2nd fret looks a little iffy too) It > > >also has only 6 tied frets! > > > > > >I have a blown up copy of the lute from the Ambassador painting and it > > >clearly shows doubled frets. But not graded. > > > > > >Sean Smith > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >At 12:45 PM 10/18/03, you wrote: > > > >http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/single.htm > > > > > >-- > >The Smokehouse, > >6 Whitwell Road, > >Norwich, NR1 4HB > >England. > > > >Telephone: + 44 (0)1603 629899 > >Website: http://www.vanedwards.co.uk > > > >
