JAS wrote: " But this means all those elaborate formulas for tying a double fret with a single strand of gut are not applicable. "
Not really; as Sean (I think) pointed out, the up-neck fret tends to be the one that takes the brunt of the wear. After a week or three of use they seem to settle in with this morphology (slightly higher on the bridge side). The effect is very small, but I think it's not imaginary. I do have a lot of trouble getting double fret knots tight for anything greater than, say, 0.80 mm fretgut though. -Peter ----- Original Message ----- From: "James A Stimson" To: "Peter Weiler" Subject: Re: Built-in action? Double frets Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 19:29:25 -0400 > > > > > > Dear Peter and All: > Now this is interesting. I assume you put the slightly smaller fret on the > nut side of the "main" fret. > It makes me think of the frets on my Forrester citterns, which are brass > and include a tiny wooden "ramp" on the nut side, which presumably keeps > one from bending the note sharp when fretting a course. > But this means all those elaborate formulas for tying a double fret with a > single strand of gut are not applicable. It also means that if you break a > fret in the middle of a performance all is not lost. > Cheers, > Jim > > > > > "Peter Weiler" > > om> cc: > Subject: Re: > Built-in action? Double frets > 06/21/2005 06:14 > PM > > > > > > > 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 -- ___________________________________________________________ Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm --
