Not having seen a theorbo up close, I assumed that it was built with a one piece neck/peg box, much like a guitar. I can see how such a neck peg box could support the tension if not angled back. But I am indeed surprised if the theorbo has its peg box and neck extension glued to the main neck where they join and yet supports the tension . There can't be much glue joint area to support the tension without being angled back to overcome the leverage of the strings being straight. Continuing with my perhaps mistaken assumptions, I have assumed that the lute - while it could be built with a one piece straight neck and peg box much like a guitar - was not built this way because the wood would have to be rather heavy and strong. By bending the neck back, leverage is reduced to the extent that lighter wood can be used for the neck, and the joint of the neck and peg box can be small in area. On Sep 2, 2012, at 11:33 AM, Martyn Hodgson wrote:
> > Theorboes withstand much greater tensions and don't have a bent back > peghead. Ditto for many mandoras/gallichons and for orpharions/bandoras > and,of course, for modern six string guitars with high tension strings. > > A more compact instrument has been suggested - but again that never > stopped the theorbo. However, perhaps in cramped domestic music making > with poor light it was an advantage to be able to get as close as > possible to other performers........ > > MH > --- On Sun, 2/9/12, Edward Mast <nedma...@aol.com> wrote: > > From: Edward Mast <nedma...@aol.com> > Subject: [LUTE] Re: What's the historical reason for the bent down > peg box? > To: "Stephen Stubbs" <fartrea...@gmail.com> > Cc: "Lute List" <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> > Date: Sunday, 2 September, 2012, 15:23 > > Would the joint of the peg box with the neck withstand the pressure of > 13 or more strings were the peg box not angled as it is? I don't think > so. > On Sep 2, 2012, at 10:00 AM, Stephen Stubbs wrote: >> I was embarrassed when I realized I didn't know the historical > reason >> to this question put forward on another email list: >> "Never did find out why the lute's neck takes that funny turn. > Gotta >> Google it." >> Why does the peg box take that downward turn? >> "The Other" Stephen Stubbs >> Champaign, Illinois USA >> >> -- >> >> >> To get on or off this list see list information at >> [1]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > -- > > References > > 1. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html >
