[LUTE] Re: Protecting top of instrument
Hello Ned, If you've already gone through the original finish, the best thing to use is Renaissance Wax Polish. I believe it was Kenneth Be, a museum conservator and lutenist, who recommended using this polish for just the sort of thing you're concerned about. I'm also aware of one luthier who applies it to his lutes before turning them over to his clients. You can't really tell that it's there, but it leaves a very thin layer of protection. It obviously won't prevent scratches and gouges to the wood, but will prevent the bare wood from discoloring. You can find some information about it at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Wax. It's available for sale through amazon.com and other on line retailers. As far as preventing scratches and gouges to the wood, the Kling-ons that others have recommended are probably the best, but I've tried them and they were always falling off the soundboard. Best regards, Bill Eisele > Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:01:41 -0500 > To: lute@cs.dartmouth.edu > From: nedma...@aol.com > Subject: [LUTE] Protecting top of instrument > > Aside from the precaution of keeping one's fingernails trimmed to > minimize wear on a lute top, is there anything to do if a top already > has substantial wear, to protect against further wear? I'm thinking in > terms of something like a clear varnish over the worn area. Has anyone > found something that works without negatively effecting the sound? And > also doesn't look bad? > > > > Ned > > -- > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html --
[LUTE] Re: Protecting top of instrument
Kling-ons work well on guitars with finished soundboards, and I have used them on such. I really have no idea how well they'd cling without some hard coating of shellac, lacquer, etc. on which to cling. Have you used them on unfinished or wax-finished tops, Joseph? I just have no experience with them in that way. Eugene > -Original Message- > From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On > Behalf Of Mayes, Joseph > Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 11:09 AM > To: nedma...@aol.com; lute@cs.dartmouth.edu > Subject: [LUTE] Re: Protecting top of instrument > > Hello Ned > There is a product called "Kling-on" made for guitarists to protect the > top > from flamenco techniques. It is like a tap plate but is held in place by > static "cling" rather than a sticky and un-undoable glue. > Stringsbymail.com > sells it by the sheet. > Or you could think, "Why would anyone play with his/her little finger > on > the soundboard in the first place?" (To sound just like the paintings?) > > Joseph Mayes > > > On 3/10/10 11:01 AM, "nedma...@aol.com" wrote: > > >Aside from the precaution of keeping one's fingernails trimmed to > >minimize wear on a lute top, is there anything to do if a top already > >has substantial wear, to protect against further wear? I'm thinking > in > >terms of something like a clear varnish over the worn area. Has > anyone > >found something that works without negatively effecting the sound? > And > >also doesn't look bad? > > > > > > > >Ned > > > >-- > > > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: Protecting top of instrument
Hello Ned There is a product called "Kling-on" made for guitarists to protect the top from flamenco techniques. It is like a tap plate but is held in place by static "cling" rather than a sticky and un-undoable glue. Stringsbymail.com sells it by the sheet. Or you could think, "Why would anyone play with his/her little finger on the soundboard in the first place?" (To sound just like the paintings?) Joseph Mayes On 3/10/10 11:01 AM, "nedma...@aol.com" wrote: >Aside from the precaution of keeping one's fingernails trimmed to >minimize wear on a lute top, is there anything to do if a top already >has substantial wear, to protect against further wear? I'm thinking in >terms of something like a clear varnish over the worn area. Has anyone >found something that works without negatively effecting the sound? And >also doesn't look bad? > > > >Ned > >-- > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
