Ha ha! My diabolical plan to inflate the third-quarter share price of fretgut manufactories is proceeding apace! Dear Martyn, Sean, and Peter, and all, Last night I added another fret to each of the frets on my 6 course lute, in the manner that Sean had suggested, with smaller diameter gut behind it, as I was unsure as to how much the fret wear, would affect me getting the right mix with the existing frets. Well, the result was phenomenal, not only in the playability, but sound as well. I guess these old guys new something after all. Besides the feeling of solidity, and sure footedness, the lute immediately had more sustain, not in a bad way, but just enough to even out the balance everywhere. It also eliminated, what I consider, a not musical transient attack sound, and gave it a crystalline round fundamental attack. I think in the way, that Peter was describing, the guitar like effect, this is important for the lute, as really, the only thing that projects, is the attack of the string.
If one really thinks about it, half the sound goes into the bridge, and half goes into the neck, via the frets. So to not consider the effect the frets contribute would be silly. This was so amazing that I then did it to my baroque lute, with the same astonishing results. I did get a little sizzle on the second course second fret, but I realize this is probably the most fretted note on the Baroque lute, and the fret wore there more than other places. It makes me think that when the BIG BOYS have tried it, they didn't have time, concerts etc. to let the sizzle fade away perhaps? When I have tried to turn on, some of my stubborn guitar friends, to the Baroque lute, they to my horror, declare that the baroque lute sounds like a banjo. These double frets, transform this, thin high partial banjo like sound, into a full bodied rounded sound, much easier on the ear of the non initiated, and more in line with what guitarists consider a good tone. I have yet to try the single double looped system,,which I will, but If professionals who don't have the time perhaps Sean's method would be something one could try in a matter of an hour or so. I will put double frets on all my lutes from now on. Thanks again, for the dialogue, and expertise, and your patience with my journey -- ___________________________________________________________ Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html