P.S. It's much appreciated, Roman and Eugene...Indeed, 4 mm was the "max" that the expert/master luthier told me was "acceptable"...My 10-course was in for repairs recently (after 15 years of me playing it...) and the action had risen to about 5.5 mm at the 9th fret. The luthier corrected it and it plays a GREAT deal better now. I am glad to know the same basic rule applies to the action on baroque lutes...Heck, they are lutes, not long-bows to shoot arrows with, LOL! :-)
Best regards and have a wonderful Sunday evening, BJ ----- Original Message ---- From: Roman Turovsky <r.turov...@gmail.com> To: lute@cs.dartmouth.edu; brentlynk <brentl...@bellsouth.net> Sent: Sun, February 5, 2012 12:36:01 PM Subject: [LUTE] Re: Action on Baroque Lute? 3.5mm @ the 8th fret. Definitely no more than 4mm. RT ----- Original Message ----- From: "brentlynk" <brentl...@bellsouth.net> To: <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 12:27 PM Subject: [LUTE] Action on Baroque Lute? > Hello Everyone! > > Quick question to all the experts out there (if it's possible for me to ask a > quick question, LOL -- sorry! :-) > > What is the "ideal action" at the neck/body joint on 13 course baroque lute >with > a 72 cm vibrating string length "supposed" to be? I realize that this could be > "subjective," based upon individuals and their playing styles, etc...But is > there a general consensus of a "range" that most people consider ideal? > > IF interested, here is more background as to why I am asking the question: > > I have played ten course renaissance lute for the past 20 years, and was told >by > a great luthier that "4 mm of clearance is acceptable at the neck/body joint >for > a 63 cm vibrating string length, 10 course renaissance lute." He also said >that > on smaller renaissance lutes, such as six course lutes, (especially with those > with shorter string lengths...) the ideal action is even lower than that at the > neck/body joint -- say, "around 3 mm of clearance at the neck/body joint." I am > NOT a luthier and have no clue...I am only repeating what I was told by a very > reputable luthier who knows his stuff. He gets this newsletter, so perhaps >he'll > answer this question along with others? :-) > > Anyhow, the reason I ask is that soon, I am going to be blessed with a 13 >course > baroque lute with a 72 cm vibrating string length, and I am wondering what the > general consensus is on the action for such a lute? Is 4 mm to 5 mm of string > clearance at the neck/body joint acceptable? Or is that too low? Or too high? > > > I realize that we are talking about millimeters here...I don't literally mean >to > splice hairs, LOL :-). I am also wondering if the action on a 13 course baroque > lute of 72 cm should/could/would be even higher than 5 mm? Personally, having > only played renaissance lute up to 10 courses thus far, I have always preferred > the lowest action possible without buzzing...But since the 72 cm,13 course > baroque lute I am referring to is so much longer than what I am currently used > to with the 10 course, 63 cm lute I play, I want to make sure I know what to > expect... (I am happy to make the transition and adjust accordingly...no > worries!) > > > Thanks in advance, > BJ > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
