it is not impossible. I have a Stephen Barber archlute and the SL for the first pegbox is 650mm top string tuned as g' with a'=440. I use an old Nylgut .38 and that has not broken. I must be lucky! It may be relevant that the top course runs over the nut and to the first peg outside the pegbox. The line from bridge to peg is perfectly straight and I suspect this reduces the risk of string breakage on sharp edges of the nut etc. The other factor may be that there is no crowding of the string windings against the side of the pegbox. Best of luck Charles
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