Thanks for the note, Danny. I am not one to criticize synthetic strings, as I use them too on my Venere renaissance lute (for the time being). I think it is great that we have choices. Somne of the best recordings of lute music have been recorded in synthetic strings. For me, I sound best in gut.
But my, oh yes, it is very fussy. I am not necessarily asking for people to convert to gut. You also bring up an important point.. that is, it does take a different approach with the right hand in learning how to use gut appropriately & beautifully. Down to only 4 instruments? Too bad.... ed At 10:44 AM 12/2/2007 -0500, Daniel Shoskes wrote: >Ed, as you know I have gone through phases of experimentation with >gut on my barqoue lutes. Even though we both live in cold climes, I >have not been successful keeping gut easily in tune, at least not on >my bass rider. With my limited time to practice, it is simply not >possible to spend a good chunk of time tuning. Also, and I know this >is sacrilege, I don't find the sound difference to be worth it to me. >I think that gut requires a different right hand technique to sound >at it's best and too often I have heard gut played poorly with I >suppose the implicit message being "well it's on gut, so it must >sound great and be authentic". OTOH, I'm not criticizing anyone who >spends the time and effort to make a fully gut strung instrument >sound great and I've heard that many times too (eg. Earl Christy at >LSA, the recent luteduo videos and of course YOU Ed). > >I'm not a recording or performance artist and even with the >occasional amateur concert or youtube video I'm pretty much playing >for my own enjoyment, so this is what has worked for me so far. >Having said that, I am interested in new developments in gut >technology and always willing to try something new, once it has been >vetted by the gut experts on the cutting edge. What has peaked my >interest again is this swan neck discussion. I love the volume and >balance of the Jauch but don't want to devote my RH thumb to damping >every bass I strike. That's why the idea of a Jauch with long thick >gut basses and "best current technology" trebles is appealing. For >crying out loud, I'm down to only 4 instruments at the moment! > >Danny >www.dshoskes.com >www.youtube.com/kidneykutter > >On Dec 2, 2007, at 9:41 AM, Edward Martin wrote: > >>Why not stringing it all in gut? >> >>ed >> >>At 08:36 AM 12/2/2007 -0500, Daniel Shoskes wrote: >>>That is what I find interesting though. Long gut strings seem to be >>>much more stable in terms of keeping in tune (and getting them >>>there). I like the idea of long guts in the basses of a Jauch and >>>then nylgut and KF for the fingerboard strings. >> >> >> >>Edward Martin >>2817 East 2nd Street >>Duluth, Minnesota 55812 >>e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>voice: (218) 728-1202 >> >> >> >> >>To get on or off this list see list information at >>http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: >269.16.12/1163 - Release Date: 12/1/2007 12:05 PM Edward Martin 2817 East 2nd Street Duluth, Minnesota 55812 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] voice: (218) 728-1202
