In a message dated 2/20/2006 11:15:03 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I've been away all weekend and have just caught up on the six course discussion. Since we're on this topic I'd like to ask if anyone prefers a six course with a wider neck. I have one of Dan Larson's Ricercare six course lutes. It's a lovely instrument with good sound and response. However I find that I often am hitting the strings in the next course lower course when playing. I have thought it was because the neck very narrow nearer the pegbox and of course I've also thought it might simply be my playing technique. But I got to comparing it to my guitars and wondering if perhaps the neck couldn't be made a tad wider, say half an inch, to alleviate this problem. Then I began to wonder if others ran across this problem and what you did about it. So then, have any of you players wanted a wider necked six course lute? Have any of your luthiers made a wider necked six course lute? How did it work out? Did it accomplish what you (and I) hoped it would? -------------------- I have always found the narrower neck by the pegbox end to be an advantage when playing six course repertoire. Often very difficult and complex fingerings have to be managed, such as some of the fantasias of Bakfark, and I find it much easier on the six course lute because of both its narrower left hand spacing and also the rounded "half circle" cross section shape of the neck. I play with my thumb coming to a rest on the upper side of the neck reverse. Of course, one can always determine the spacing on the left hand when the lute is being made or, if possible, by changing the groove spacings on the nut. Kenneth -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
