I would suggest you try and rent one from a local lutenist, or perhaps check with the university music faculty if there would be one available on loan.
A regards A Bruno Cognyl-Fournier Montreal Canada A A On Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 1:32 PM, William Samson <[1]willsam...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: A A A difficult one, Jim. A Most lutes are built to order for a customer - A A unfortunate because the customer doesn't get a chance to try it before A A committing to buy it! A A There are, however, some off-the-peg lutes available. A Closest to your A A price range are the lutes built (in Pakistan??) for the Early Music A A Shop in England A A [1][2]http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000655-ems -8-cours A A e-renaissance-lute A I have recently seen and tried one of these and A A found it to play very well. A I don't know if similar lutes are A A available in the US but would be surprised if they aren't. A A The other possibility is the second-hand market, but you're in the lap A A of the gods, there. A A Good luck in your quest! A A Bill A A From: Jim Ammeson <[3]jimastr...@yahoo.com> A A To: "[4]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu" <[5]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> A A Sent: Tuesday, 31 July 2012, 17:31 A A Subject: [LUTE] My First Lute A A A So, I've been considering buying a lute for a few years now, but I've A A A had trouble finding places I can really try playing one or many A A people A A A I can talk to about them. A (Lutes are a bit of a niche thing, I A A know.) A A A A lutenist at the local renaissance faire suggested this list, so I A A A thought I'd post. A A A So, I'll just explain my situation, right now: A A A I've been playing classical guitar for about 5 years. A I play lots of A A A baroque and renaissance music, love the stuff. A I'd really like to A A try A A A playing a lute or two before deciding if I want to make the A A investment A A A in buying one. A As of right now, I don't have much over $500 to spend A A A (I know that's not probably enough for one that's really worth A A having, A A A unless I get a good price on a used one or something), but I'm A A A *willing* to spend more, just don't have it *now*. A (I'm a college A A A student, nuff said?) A A A I live in the Chicago area, and have asked around if there's anyplace A A A in the area whatsoever that makes lutes, and have tried looking A A online, A A A but haven't found anything. A I've asked around at renaissance faires, A A A as well, and, again, just was directed here by one lutenist. A A A So, any advice as to what a beginning lutenist should do? A Where to A A go A A A to try a lute for the first time and see if it is really something A A for A A A him? A I've been thinking an 8 course lute would be good for the A A pieces A A A I play to play...Bach and Dowland and the like? A Any general advice A A is A A A also appreciated. A A A -Jim A A A -- A A To get on or off this list see list information at A A [2][6]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html A A -- References A A 1. [7]http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000655-ems-8-co urse-renaissance-lute A A 2. [8]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- A Bruno Cognyl-Fournier A [9]www.estavel.org A -- References 1. mailto:willsam...@yahoo.co.uk 2. http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000655-ems-8-cours 3. mailto:jimastr...@yahoo.com 4. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 5. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 6. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 7. http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000655-ems-8-course-renaissance-lute 8. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 9. http://www.estavel.org/