> I wonder if you could relatively inexpensively construct a lute (the bowl, > at minimum) from carbon fiber (like some acoustic guitars) or molded > plastic > (like an Ovation guitar), and what it would sound like?
Plastic was tried by EMS/Bradford (or was it cast resin?) Carbon fiber would be harder, but would share a similar problem, how do you fasten the top? I would use a rim of wood on the bowl so hide glue would have something to soak into. At times in my life I have considered employment opportunitys working on fiberglass boats, and have taken cabinetmaking positions where I worked with composites. Lots of nasty chemicals are involved with high likelyhood of liver and kidney damage, hands get sliced up by ragged edges. Noisy machines. Not fun. -- Dana Emery To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
