> I want to thank everyone for posting advice. I still am interested in
> getting a lute. I thought I would offer more information.
>
> I do play classical guitar, and can read traditional music notation,
> although I hate sight reading
You might have to learn to love it. Lute repertoire is too large. Guitarists
tend to limit themselves to relatively
few memorized pieces.
> What I really want is a renaissance lute ("English Lute"), like the kind
> contemporaneous with Shakespeare, to mostly accompany myself singing, not
> solo playing. I am thinking of songs of Dowland, Campion, etc, of the era.
> I have to object to the advice on getting a 13 course lute or Therobo. 13
> courses is way too many strings to tune, take care of, and keep track of.
Understandable, if unfounded fear.
> As for a Therobo, the problem is I dont want something that similar to the
> guitar. It is my understanding the different sound of the guitar versus
> the
> lute is partly because of the double strings, without which defeats the
> purpose. I also think the renaissance lute just looks better, and the
> therobo looks way too big and guitar like.
A heck of a phallic symbol, for sure.
>
> One problem is, I started off playing the guitar without nails (I used to
> play the piano). Finally I just let them grow out as I was supposed to,
> and
> the playing is MUCH better with nails (Easier, more versatile, sounds
> better). So the lute is not played with nails? Is this the general rule,
> or
> an absolute requirement?
It is not a requirement, but an overwhelming preference. Some people prefer
no-nails on guitar as well. And some think that nail soung is ugly.
>
> Will be very difficult switch back and forth if one instrument requires
> nails and the other doesn't?
Some cut their nails in a way that accomodates both.
>
> Also, I've heard it elsewhere (on the rec.music.classical.guitar
> newsgroup)
> that the "pakistani" made lutes are horrible (the cheap ones on ebay). How
> do I make sure I dont get stuck with one of these bad ones?
Very simple: don't buy one. Get one from a reputable builder.
> Are they really
> that bad?
Yes.
> If there is so much demand for lutes, why are there relatively few
> available?
Too much demand.
> (One luthier told me the waiting period was 18 months. . ) And
> why does the "early music shop" always have an unlimited amount of
> suspiciously cheap lutes? (see ebay)
No demand for substandard merchadise, maybe?
RT
==
http://polyhymnion.org
Feci quod potui. Faciant meliora potentes.
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