I think I know how she solved her problem of colliding strings.
On Jul 22, 2011, at 1:31 PM, Peter Nightingale wrote:
Van Lennep may have also struck a compromise based on the size of the
hands of lutenist for whom he made the instrument originally, and who
sold
it to me when she had had enough of luting.
Peter.
On Sat, 23 Jul 2011, Ed Durbrow wrote:
You have articulated the conundrum. Joel van Lennep is probably
basing his
instruments on historical instruments. Spacing on historical
instruments is
sometimes impossible for us moderns. We might collectively be missing
something. Either they had some string technology we are not aware
of or they
liked twang or they played very lightly near the bridge. Who knows?
I'll dig out my archlute and see what the spacing is. Again, I had
the bridge
re-drilled on it to give me more space on the double courses.
On Jul 22, 2011, at 11:32 PM, Peter Nightingale wrote:
Ed, Suzanne, Roman, Alexander, ...
Thanks for your suggestions. I remain confused by colliding
strings and
ditto realities.
I cannot believe that Joel van Lennep would make an instrument with
the
design flaws your comments imply. Could it be that my lute does
not live
up to your expectations, because it is a 14 course archlute. (BTW,
Suzanne seems to have a space problem too.) The courses have to be
close
together for the instrument to be playable, it would seem. The
distance
between the string of the 6th and 7th courses is is roughly 4mm,
8mm, and
4mm. If pairs of the individual courses were to be 5mm apart, this
would
become 5mm, 6mm, 5mm. It would introduce a 6.5th course, a
revolutionary
design! My guess is that the compromise that was made tries to
avoid the
the clanging disaster by creating more space at the nut. Actually,
there
is more: the octave strings are slightly closer to the sound board
than
the fundamentals in both courses.
Thanks again,
Peter.
the next auto-quote is:
A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy,
education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is
necessary.
Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by
fear of
punishment and hope of reward after death.
(Albert Einstein)
/\/\
Peter Nightingale Telephone (401) 874-5882
Department of Physics, East Hall Fax (401) 874-2380
University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI 02881
To get on or off this list see list information at
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Ed Durbrow
Saitama, Japan
http://www.musicianspage.com/musicians/9688/
http://www9.plala.or.jp/edurbrow/
the next auto-quote is:
Operationally, God is beginning to resemble not a ruler but the last
fading smile of a cosmic Cheshire Cat.
(Julian Huxley)
/\/\
Peter Nightingale Telephone (401) 874-5882
Department of Physics, East Hall Fax (401) 874-2380
University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI 02881
